Senior UX Quantitative Researcher, Payments

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Quantitative Researcher, Payments
Company: Google
Location: Mountain View, California, United States
Job Type: Full-time
Category: User Experience Research / Data Science / Product Analytics
Date Posted: September 26, 2025
Experience Level: 6+ Years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive product impact by partnering with cross-functional teams, including Program Managers, Design, Engineering, and fellow UX Researchers within the Payments domain.
• Define and measure key quantitative UX goals and metrics, collaborating closely with Designers, Qualitative Researchers, Data Scientists, Engineers, and Program Managers.
• Craft sophisticated quantitative surveys to accurately gauge user sentiments, identify critical needs, and understand complex behaviors related to Google's payment products.
• Develop and implement code or statistical models to deeply understand user experience, identify patterns, and inform product improvements.
• Conduct empirical research leveraging methods from computer science, quantitative social science, statistics, and econometrics to analyze user behavior and extract actionable insights from large datasets.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within Google's Payments team, indicating a focus on financial technology and user experience within payment platforms. The emphasis on "quantitative" research, alongside the "senior" title, suggests a need for advanced analytical skills and the ability to lead research initiatives with significant product influence. The requirement for on-site work in Mountain View points to a collaborative, in-person environment common in large tech organizations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and internal UX Researchers to ensure research findings directly influence product strategy and development decisions for Google's payment solutions.
• Establish, track, and report on quantitative UX goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure user satisfaction, engagement, and task success across payment platforms.
• Design, execute, and analyze large-scale surveys to gather insights into user attitudes, needs, pain points, and behavioral trends related to online and in-store payments.
• Utilize programming languages such as Python or R, and statistical modeling techniques to analyze user interaction data, identify causal relationships, and predict user behavior.
• Employ a range of empirical research methodologies, including log analysis, A/B testing, path modeling, and regression analysis, to uncover deep insights into how users interact with Google's payment products.
• Translate complex quantitative data into clear, concise, and actionable recommendations for product and design teams, supported by robust statistical evidence.
• Contribute to the development of a robust UX research practice within the Payments team, sharing best practices and mentoring junior researchers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic research design, hands-on data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. The specific mention of "Payments" suggests a need for understanding financial transactions, security, and user trust within this context. The expectation to "Develop code or statistical models" and "Conduct empirical research using methods from computer science, quantitative social science, statistics, econometrics" points to a strong technical and analytical foundation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Statistics, Psychology, Anthropology, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Preferred: Master's degree or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Statistics, Psychology, Anthropology, or a related quantitative field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in product research within an applied research setting, with a strong focus on quantitative methodologies.
• Preferred: 5 years of experience conducting UX research on consumer-facing products, with a proven track record of influencing executive leadership (Director level and above).
• Preferred: 3 years of experience managing complex research projects within a large, matrixed organization, demonstrating strong organizational and leadership capabilities.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in designing and executing quantitative user experience research studies, including survey design, experimental design, and data analysis.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages commonly used for data manipulation and statistical analysis, such as Python, R, MATLAB, Java, or Go.
• Demonstrated ability to apply statistical methods and modeling techniques (e.g., regression analysis, path modeling, A/B testing) to understand user behavior and inform product decisions.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and clear recommendations.
• Experience collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Data Scientists.
• Strong understanding of research methodologies in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and quantitative social sciences.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience conducting UX research specifically within the payments or fintech industry.
• Ability to demonstrate excellent command of research questions within a given domain and proficiency with technical tools for data analysis.
• Experience in survey platforms and methodologies for sentiment and behavioral analysis.
• Familiarity with large-scale data analysis, log analysis, and extracting patterns from massive datasets.
• Project management skills applicable to leading research initiatives from conception to completion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between minimum and preferred qualifications, particularly the advanced degrees and extensive experience with executive leadership and project management, suggests this senior role requires not only deep technical expertise but also significant strategic influence and leadership potential. The emphasis on "applied research setting" and "large, matrixed organization" points to Google's operational environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 significant quantitative UX research projects that demonstrate a clear impact on product development and user experience within a professional setting.
• Projects should highlight your ability to define research questions, design rigorous quantitative studies, execute data collection, perform advanced statistical analysis, and communicate findings effectively to diverse stakeholders.
• For each project, clearly articulate the research problem, your specific role and contributions, the methodologies employed, key findings, and the resulting product or design changes.
• Include examples of how you've used quantitative data (e.g., user behavior analytics, survey data, experimental results) to drive strategic product decisions.
• Demonstrate experience with data visualization and the creation of compelling narratives that translate complex quantitative insights into understandable and actionable recommendations.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of well-documented research plans, including clear objectives, hypotheses, methodology, participant criteria, and analysis plans.
• Provide evidence of your ability to document and share research findings in formats that are accessible and impactful for product teams, engineering, and leadership.
• Illustrate how you approach iterative research and incorporate feedback into ongoing product development cycles, demonstrating a structured approach to research operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Quantitative UX Researcher role, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond simply listing projects; it must demonstrate strategic thinking, methodological rigor, and tangible impact. The emphasis should be on how the research directly influenced product decisions, improved user experience metrics, and contributed to business goals within the payments domain.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $151,000 - $222,000 USD per year (Base Salary)

Benefits:

• Bonus: Performance-based annual bonus opportunities.
• Equity: Potential for stock grants or options, reflecting long-term commitment and company growth.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with company match.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.
• Parental Leave: Paid leave for new parents.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, training, conferences, and access to Google's internal research tools and community.
• Wellness Programs: Support for employee well-being.
• Commuter Benefits: Assistance for transportation to the office.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work week, approximately 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, Google often offers some flexibility in daily scheduling, allowing for focused work blocks and collaboration time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is for the base salary only. Google typically offers a highly competitive total compensation package that includes annual bonuses and equity awards, which can significantly increase the overall compensation. The benefits listed are standard for large tech companies and are tailored to support employee well-being and professional growth. The "on-site" designation implies a standard work week, but Google's culture often allows for some degree of flexible scheduling within the office environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Internet Services & Software)
Company Size: Over 100,000 employees globally.
Founded: 1998. Google has a long-standing history of innovation, focusing on organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful. This ethos extends to its user experience research, aiming to create products that are intuitive, accessible, and valuable to billions of users worldwide.

Team Structure:

• The UX team at Google is multi-disciplinary, comprising UX Designers, Researchers, Writers, Content Strategists, Program Managers, and Engineers.
• Quantitative UX Researchers (Quant UXRs) like this role are embedded within product teams, often reporting through a UX research leadership hierarchy while collaborating daily with product managers and engineers.
• This role specifically sits within the Payments team, a critical area for Google, focusing on the seamless and secure movement of money across its various products and services.

Methodology:

• Google emphasizes a data-driven approach to product development, with a strong reliance on empirical research and user insights.
• The Quant UXR community within Google fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement of research methodologies and tools.
• The "Focus on the user and all else will follow" principle is deeply ingrained, ensuring that user needs and behaviors are central to design and engineering decisions.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Google's culture is known for its emphasis on innovation, data-driven decision-making, and user-centricity. For a Senior Quant UXR, this means working in a fast-paced environment where rigorous research directly informs product strategy and impacts millions of users globally. The Payments team context is crucial, as it involves sensitive financial data and requires a high degree of trust, security, and user confidence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (IC) with potential for leadership. This role is positioned as a Senior UX Quantitative Researcher, indicating a high level of expertise and autonomy. It requires the ability to not only conduct research but also to guide research strategy, mentor junior colleagues, and influence product roadmaps.

Reporting Structure: Typically, Senior UXRs report to a UX Research Manager or Lead. They work closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and Designers within their specific product area (Payments). Collaboration is key, with regular interaction across disciplines and with other researchers in the broader UX community at Google.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing the design, functionality, and success of Google's payment products. By understanding user behavior, needs, and pain points through quantitative analysis, the researcher helps ensure that payment experiences are seamless, secure, and trustworthy, thereby driving user adoption, retention, and revenue for Google's ecosystem.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced statistical modeling, machine learning for user behavior analysis, or specific research methodologies within payments.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Transition into a UX Research Lead role, managing a team of researchers, or become a principal researcher, setting research direction for larger product areas.
• Cross-Functional Mobility: Move into Product Management, Data Science, or Program Management roles, leveraging deep user understanding and analytical skills.
• Industry Influence: Contribute to external publications, conferences, and the broader UX research community, establishing Google as a leader in payment UX research.
• Product Ownership: Take on more strategic ownership of research initiatives, shaping product strategy from the ground up.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title at Google implies a high degree of autonomy and influence. Growth opportunities are substantial, ranging from technical mastery and leadership to broader strategic roles. The candidate should be prepared to articulate how their quantitative skills can drive measurable business outcomes in the payments space.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, CA. Google's offices are known for their modern, collaborative, and amenity-rich environments designed to foster innovation and employee well-being.

Office Location(s): Mountain View, California, USA. This location is Google's primary campus and a hub for many of its core product development teams, including those in Payments.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration Spaces: Abundant meeting rooms, brainstorming areas, and open-plan zones designed for team interaction and cross-functional collaboration.
• Tools & Technology: Access to state-of-the-art computing resources, internal research platforms, data analysis tools, and collaboration software.
• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for informal and formal interactions with UX Designers, Qualitative Researchers, Data Scientists, Engineers, and Product Managers, fostering a dynamic and integrated work environment.
• Amenities: On-campus facilities often include cafeterias, fitness centers, recreational areas, and other services that support a productive and balanced work life.

Work Schedule: As an on-site role, a standard 40-hour work week is expected. However, Google generally encourages flexibility in how individuals manage their time to achieve optimal productivity, balancing focused individual work with collaborative team activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Mountain View suggests a highly collaborative and resource-intensive work environment. Candidates should be prepared for an office setting that encourages regular interaction and teamwork, with access to extensive company resources.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will review your application and resume for minimum qualifications.
• Phone/Video Interview (Recruiter): Discuss your background, interest in the role, and high-level qualifications.
• Technical Phone/Video Interview(s): Conducted by one or more UX Researchers or Data Scientists. These interviews will focus on your quantitative research skills, statistical knowledge, programming proficiency (e.g., Python/R), and experience with research methodologies. Expect questions about past projects and problem-solving scenarios.
• On-site/Virtual On-site Interviews: This typically involves a series of interviews with various stakeholders:
  • UX Research Peers: Discuss your research process, methodological choices, and ability to collaborate.
  • Product/Design Leads: Assess your ability to understand product goals, translate business needs into research questions, and influence product strategy.
  • Engineering/Data Science Leads: Evaluate your technical depth, understanding of data analysis, and ability to work with technical teams.
  • Hiring Manager: A comprehensive discussion about your experience, leadership potential, and fit with the team and Google's culture.
• Portfolio Review: During one or more of these interviews, you will be asked to present 1-2 key projects from your portfolio, detailing your process, findings, and impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business or user impact of your research. Quantify improvements where possible (e.g., "increased conversion by X%", "reduced task completion time by Y seconds").
• Methodological Rigor: Be prepared to defend your research design, statistical methods, and data analysis choices. Explain why you chose a particular approach.
• Storytelling: Structure your project presentations as a narrative: the problem, your approach, key findings, and the solution/recommendation.
• Data Visualization: Showcase well-designed charts, graphs, and dashboards that effectively communicate complex quantitative data.
• Tailor to Payments: If possible, highlight projects relevant to payments, finance, or complex user flows. If not, draw parallels and explain how your skills are transferable.

Challenge Preparation:

• Quantitative Problem-Solving: Be ready for hypothetical scenarios where you might be asked to design a study or analyze a dataset to address a specific product question related to payments.
• Technical Proficiency: Brush up on your statistical concepts, probability, and programming skills in Python/R, focusing on data manipulation and analysis libraries.
• Stakeholder Communication: Practice explaining complex technical concepts and research findings in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner to non-technical audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process at Google is rigorous and designed to assess a candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, collaboration style, and cultural fit. The portfolio review is a critical component, so candidates must be well-prepared to present their work compellingly.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Statistical Programming Languages: Python (with libraries like Pandas, NumPy, SciPy, Statsmodels, Scikit-learn), R (with libraries like dplyr, ggplot2, caret).
• Data Analysis & Manipulation: SQL for querying large datasets, potentially BigQuery or similar data warehousing solutions.
• Survey Platforms: Experience with enterprise-level survey tools (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey Enterprise) for crafting and deploying surveys.
• Experimental Design Tools: Familiarity with tools or frameworks for designing and analyzing A/B tests and other controlled experiments.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Looker, or internal Google tools for creating dashboards and reports to communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Log Analysis Tools: Experience with tools or platforms for analyzing user interaction logs to understand behavior patterns.
• Web Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics (though internal tools are more likely used for core products).

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user data is managed and flows through systems like CRMs or internal customer data platforms is beneficial for context.
• Experience with workflow automation tools might be useful for research processes, though less central to the core UXR function.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Python or R for data analysis, along with SQL for data extraction, is non-negotiable for this quantitative role. Experience with enterprise survey tools and data visualization platforms is also essential for effective research execution and communication.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Focus: A relentless commitment to understanding and advocating for the user, ensuring their needs and experiences are paramount in product development.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: A strong emphasis on using empirical data and rigorous analysis to inform strategy, design, and product iteration.
• Collaboration: A belief in the power of cross-functional teamwork, valuing diverse perspectives and shared ownership of product success.
• Impact & Innovation: A drive to create meaningful impact through innovative solutions that solve real user problems and advance Google's mission.
• Excellence & Rigor: A commitment to high standards in research methodology, analysis, and communication to ensure the reliability and validity of insights.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Researchers work as embedded members of product teams, fostering close collaboration with PMs, Designers, and Engineers.
• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in internal research communities, meetups, and forums to share learnings, best practices, and collaborate on challenges.
• Constructive Feedback: An environment where constructive feedback is encouraged and valued, both in giving and receiving, to continuously improve research outcomes and personal growth.
• Iterative Approach: Working closely with product cycles to provide ongoing insights, supporting iterative development and continuous improvement of the user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: Google's culture is deeply ingrained with values that support a quantitative research role. The emphasis on user-centricity, data, and collaboration directly aligns with the core functions of a Senior Quant UXR, particularly within a product-focused team like Payments.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Complexity: Working with massive datasets and complex user behaviors within Google's vast product ecosystem requires sophisticated analytical skills and robust methodologies.
• Ambiguity: Navigating evolving product roadmaps and market dynamics, translating ambiguous business needs into clear research questions.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring research insights are understood, adopted, and acted upon by diverse stakeholders with varying priorities and technical backgrounds.
• Pace of Innovation: Keeping pace with rapid product development cycles and emerging technologies in the payments space.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Analytics Training: Access to internal workshops, courses, and mentorship on cutting-edge statistical techniques, machine learning, and causal inference.
• Industry Conferences & Publications: Opportunities to attend leading UX research and data science conferences, and to publish findings in recognized journals or present at industry events.
• Mentorship Programs: Participation in formal or informal mentorship programs with senior researchers and leaders across Google.
• Tooling & Infrastructure: Exposure to and training on Google's proprietary research tools and advanced data infrastructure.
• Specialization: Developing deep expertise in the nuances of payment user behavior, security, and trust, becoming a go-to expert in this critical domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for professional development, especially for those looking to deepen their quantitative research expertise in a high-impact, complex domain like digital payments. The challenges are inherent to working at a leading tech company, providing ample scope for growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex quantitative research project you led from conception to impact. What was the problem, your methodology, key findings, and the ultimate outcome for the product?" (Focus on impact, rigor, and storytelling).
• "Imagine we want to understand why users abandon purchases at the payment stage. How would you approach this quantitatively? What data would you look for, what methods would you use, and what potential pitfalls would you anticipate?" (Assess problem-solving, methodological breadth, and foresight).
• "How do you ensure your quantitative research findings are actionable and understood by non-technical stakeholders like designers and product managers?" (Evaluate communication and collaboration skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about working on Google Payments, and how do you see quantitative UX research contributing to its success?" (Gauge genuine interest and understanding of the domain).
• "How do you handle disagreements with product managers or engineers regarding research findings or methodologies?" (Assess conflict resolution and influencing skills).
• "Describe a time you had to adapt your research plan due to unforeseen challenges or data limitations. What did you do, and what did you learn?" (Evaluate adaptability and problem-solving under pressure).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each project, aim for: Problem Statement -> Research Questions -> Methodology (justification) -> Key Findings (with clear data visualizations) -> Recommendations & Impact.
• Quantify Everything: Emphasize metrics, statistical significance, and measurable outcomes.
• Your Role: Clearly delineate your specific contributions, especially if it was a team project.
• Tooling: Be prepared to discuss the specific tools and statistical techniques you used.
• Context: Briefly explain the product or domain context for each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating your quantitative expertise, showcasing your ability to drive product impact, and demonstrating a strong understanding of user research principles within a product development lifecycle. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail and to tackle hypothetical research challenges.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Quantitative Researcher position:

• Submit Your Application: Carefully fill out the online application through Google's careers portal.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your quantitative research experience, statistical skills, programming proficiency (Python/R), project management experience, and any relevant work in payments or fintech. Use keywords from the job description.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful quantitative UX research projects. Ensure they clearly demonstrate your methodology, analysis, findings, and, most importantly, the product impact. Be ready to present these in detail.
• Research Google Payments: Understand the team's mission, key products (e.g., Google Pay, Autofill, in-app payments), and the broader landscape of digital payments.
• Practice Interview Questions: Review common UX research and data science interview questions, focusing on quantitative problem-solving, behavioral research design, and stakeholder communication.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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