Senior Quantitative UX Researcher, 3D Human Modeling

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Quantitative UX Researcher, 3D Human Modeling

Company: Google

Location: Mountain View, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Quantitative User Experience Research

Date Posted: June 16, 2025

Experience Level: Senior (5+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead quantitative user experience research initiatives specifically focused on 3D human modeling and its application in hardware design, particularly for wearable and AR/VR products.
• Develop and execute comprehensive research strategies utilizing advanced methodologies, including 3D scans and anthropometric data analysis.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (Product Management, Design, Engineering) to translate complex quantitative data and insights into actionable product development and strategic recommendations.
• Apply a strong statistical toolkit to analyze large and complex datasets, generating robust research insights that directly inform and influence product design decisions and user experience outcomes.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Create and define the UX research strategy, specifically leveraging 3D scans, anthropometry, and advanced modeling methodologies to guide the design and development of wearable and AR/VR products.
• Ensure alignment of research strategies with cross-functional teams and effectively execute the research plan, delivering timely and impactful results, reports, and recommendations.
• Act as a key partner to Product Management, Design, and Engineering teams, and internal UX Research groups, driving product impact through rigorous quantitative research.
• Design and conduct 3D Human Modeling studies employing appropriate quantitative methodologies, delivering high-quality analysis and results to directly influence product development and strategy.
• Drive concrete product impact by presenting solid, data-driven results and communicating clearly through presentations, written documents, and direct interactions to achieve optimal outcomes for the product and users.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related quantitative social science discipline. A PhD in Computer Vision, Computer Science, Computer Graphics, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Human Computer Interaction, or Bioengineering is strongly preferred.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in an applied research setting. Demonstrated experience driving hardware design research and contributing to product strategy and research roadmaps is essential. Experience performing research that directly informs business strategy is also required.

Required Skills:

• Applied quantitative research methodologies (logs analysis, survey research, path modeling, regression analysis).
• Experience driving hardware design research initiatives.
• Experience contributing to product strategy and research roadmaps.
• Solid statistical toolkit for analyzing large and complex datasets.

Preferred Skills:

• Expertise in Human Factors and Ergonomics research methodologies and principles.
• Proficiency with CAD tools such as Solidworks, NX, or MeshLab.
• Experience working with 3D meshes and using automation tools (e.g., Python) for processing and generating anthropometric insights.
• Understanding of and experience with mesh registration, 3D geometry, image processing, and linear algebra.
• Strong understanding of population statistics and the ability to apply different statistical tools to answer diverse research questions.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase research projects where you applied quantitative methodologies in an applied setting, particularly those related to hardware design or physical product interaction.
• Include case studies demonstrating your process for utilizing 3D data (scans, meshes) to derive user insights and inform design decisions.
• Present examples of how your research contributed to product strategy and influenced the design roadmap, especially in technically complex domains.
• Demonstrate proficiency in communicating complex quantitative results and technical findings to cross-functional teams (design, engineering, product management) through clear and impactful visualizations and narratives.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to designing quantitative studies, including sampling strategies, data collection methods (especially for 3D data), and statistical analysis plans.
• Document your process for cleaning, processing, and analyzing large and complex datasets, including the use of automation tools like Python for 3D mesh analysis.
• Explain your methods for translating quantitative findings into actionable design recommendations and product requirements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The US base salary range for this full-time position is $151,000 - $222,000 per year. This range is determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Benefits: In addition to the base salary, this position includes bonus potential, equity, and comprehensive benefits as offered by Google. Specific details about benefits can be found at Google Careers Benefits.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, typically involving standard business hours. Flexibility may be required based on project needs and collaboration with global teams.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Software Development, Hardware, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Cloud (within the Devices & Services team focusing on combining AI, Software, and Hardware).

Company Size: 10,001+ employees (Google is a large, global technology company).

Founded: Google was founded in 1998.

Team Structure:

• User Experience (UX) teams at Google are multidisciplinary, comprising UX Designers, Researchers (including Quantitative UX Researchers), Writers, Content Strategists, Program Managers, and Engineers.
• Quantitative UX Researchers collaborate closely with other UX disciplines, Product Management, and Engineering teams.
• This specific role sits within the Devices & Services team, indicating a focus on hardware product development.

Methodology:

• Google's UX approach is inherently user-centered, following the principle "Focus on the user and all else will follow."
• Quantitative UX Researchers at Google utilize empirical research methods such as logs analysis, survey research, path modeling, and regression analysis.
• There is a strong emphasis on combining behavioral research design, statistical methods, and general programming skills.

Company Website: https://www.google.com

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is a Senior-level Quantitative UX Researcher position. Senior researchers are expected to lead research initiatives, influence product strategy, mentor junior team members, and operate with significant autonomy.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, Senior Quantitative UX Researchers typically report to a UX Research Manager or Director within the larger UX organization or the specific product area (Devices & Services in this case). Collaboration across functions (Product Management, Engineering, Design) is a key aspect of the role.

Design Impact: This role has significant impact on product design and strategy, particularly for hardware products involving human interaction and form factor. The research insights derived from 3D human modeling will directly inform the physical design and user experience of Google's wearable and AR/VR devices.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential for advancement to Lead Quantitative UX Researcher or Managerial positions within the UX Research discipline.
• Opportunities to specialize further in hardware research, 3D human data analysis, or specific product areas (e.g., AR/VR, wearables).
• Growth through mentorship opportunities within Google's large Quantitative UX research community.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site at Google's Mountain View, CA headquarters. The work environment is expected to be a modern corporate office setting, likely with dedicated spaces for collaboration, research activities, and access to necessary hardware and equipment for 3D modeling and testing.

Office Location(s): Mountain View, CA.

Design Workspace Context:

• Access to specialized equipment and labs required for 3D scanning, testing hardware prototypes, and conducting human factors/ergonomics studies.
• Collaborative spaces designed to facilitate interaction with cross-functional teams (Design, Engineering, Product Management).
• Opportunities to engage with the broader Google UX community through internal meetups and programs.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site. The specific schedule may vary based on project needs and team collaboration requirements.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial screening call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and experience.
• Technical interview(s) focusing on quantitative research methodologies, statistical analysis, and potentially technical skills related to 3D data processing and analysis. Be prepared to discuss your approach to research design, data analysis, and interpreting complex results.
• Portfolio review or case study presentation where you walk through relevant research projects, highlighting your process, findings, impact, and collaboration with cross-functional teams. Focus on projects involving hardware, human factors, or 3D data if possible.
• Interviews with members of the UX team, Product Management, and Engineering to assess collaboration skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.
• Potentially a round focusing on leadership and seniority, discussing how you've mentored others, driven strategic initiatives, and influenced product direction.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate case studies that clearly demonstrate your ability to design and execute quantitative research projects that informed product design, especially in hardware or technically complex domains.
• For projects involving 3D human modeling or anthropometry, clearly explain your methodology for data collection, processing (including tool usage like Python or CAD), analysis, and how the insights were applied.
• Quantify the impact of your research whenever possible (e.g., how insights led to specific design changes, improved user metrics, or influenced product strategy).
• Structure your case studies to highlight the problem, your research question(s), methodology, findings, recommendations, and the resulting impact.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical research problem related to hardware design, human factors, or 3D human modeling, including your research design, methodology, and analysis plan.
• Practice articulating your thought process for tackling complex quantitative problems and translating technical insights for non-technical stakeholders.
• Review fundamental concepts in statistics, research design, and potentially relevant areas like anthropometry or 3D data analysis depending on your background and the specific role focus.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools: While primarily a research role, familiarity with tools used by the design and engineering teams with whom you'll collaborate is beneficial. This role specifically mentions:

• CAD tools (e.g., Solidworks, NX, MeshLab) for working with 3D models and potentially analyzing design specifications.
• Automation tools like Python for processing 3D meshes and analyzing anthropometric data.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Tools for sharing research findings and insights with cross-functional teams (e.g., presentation software, internal documentation platforms).
• Potentially tools used for design handoff or specification documentation if collaborating closely with design and engineering on implementation details.

Research & Testing:

• Statistical software packages (e.g., R, Python with libraries like Pandas, NumPy, SciPy, StatsModels) for data analysis.
• Tools for conducting surveys and analyzing survey data.
• Tools for analyzing large datasets, potentially including logs analysis platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Focus on the user: The core principle guiding all work at Google, including UX research.
• Data-driven decision making: Quantitative insights are highly valued and directly inform product development.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Success relies on strong partnerships between research, design, product management, and engineering.
• Innovation and tackling complex problems: Working on challenging, cutting-edge areas like 3D human modeling for hardware requires a proactive and innovative mindset.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with multidisciplinary teams.
• Emphasis on clear and effective communication of research findings to diverse audiences.
• Culture of knowledge sharing and learning within the larger Google UX research community.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Translating complex 3D human modeling data and anthropometric insights into actionable design recommendations for hardware products.
• Designing and executing rigorous quantitative studies in the relatively nascent and complex domain of 3D human modeling for product design.
• Collaborating effectively across highly technical engineering and design teams to ensure research findings are understood and implemented.
• Staying abreast of advancements in 3D scanning technology, modeling techniques, and quantitative research methods relevant to human factors and ergonomics.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunities to deepen expertise in 3D human modeling, anthropometry, and their application in hardware design within a leading tech company.
• Access to internal training, resources, and mentorship within Google's extensive UX research community.
• Potential to contribute to publications or presentations on research findings in this specialized area.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Describe your process for designing a quantitative research study to inform the ergonomic design of a wearable device based on 3D human body data.
• How do you handle large and complex datasets, particularly those involving 3D geometry or anthropometric measurements? Walk me through your data cleaning, processing, and analysis workflow.
• How do you translate complex statistical findings into clear, actionable insights for designers and engineers who may not have a research background? Provide examples of how you've done this in the past.

Company Culture Questions:

• How do you prioritize research projects when working on a fast-paced hardware development team?
• Describe a time you had to influence product strategy or design decisions based on your research findings, particularly when initial assumptions or directions were different.
• How do you stay updated on the latest advancements in quantitative research methodologies, human factors, and technologies related to 3D human modeling?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 case studies that best demonstrate your quantitative research skills, experience with hardware or physical products, and ability to work with technical data like 3D scans.
• For each case study, clearly articulate the research question, your methodology (including specific quantitative methods and tools used), key findings, implications for design and product, and the actual impact of your research.
• If you have projects involving 3D data or anthropometry, be prepared to explain your technical approach in detail and show examples of the data and analyses.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link on the Google Careers website.
• Carefully tailor your resume to highlight your experience in quantitative research, hardware design research, 3D human modeling, anthropometry, and relevant technical skills (e.g., Python, CAD tools, statistical software). Use keywords from the job description.
• Prepare a portfolio or case study document that showcases your most relevant research projects, focusing on your process, methodologies, findings, and the impact your research had on product design or strategy.
• Research Google's Devices & Services team and recent hardware product launches (especially wearables or AR/VR) to understand the context of the role and potential areas of research.