Senior UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher Company: Waymo Location: Mountain View, CA, USA; San Francisco, CA, USA Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience Research / Product Research Date Posted: December 15, 2025 Experience Level: 5+ Years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end user research initiatives for Waymo's autonomous driving technology, focusing on both rider and internal operational experiences.
• Develop and execute rigorous research plans using mixed methodologies to uncover actionable insights that influence product strategy and design decisions for complex, emerging products.
• Act as a strategic partner to cross-functional teams, including Design, Product Management, and Engineering, translating complex research findings into compelling narratives and frameworks for key decision-makers.
• Drive research operations and best practice documentation, contributing to the maturation of the UX research discipline within Waymo through mentorship and knowledge sharing.
• Deeply understand user attitudes, emotions, and behaviors to inform the development of intuitive, accessible, and trustworthy autonomous driving technology and supporting tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Researcher, indicating a need for independent leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor others. The focus on "complex, open-ended problems" and "product area's strategic research roadmap" suggests a significant level of autonomy and influence. The emphasis on "highly technical, emerging products or complex systems with technical teams" signals a need for researchers comfortable working with engineers and complex technical concepts.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define the scope and create rigorous, end-to-end research plans for complex, open-ended problems within Waymo's product areas, ensuring timely and impactful execution.
• Proactively identify opportunities for product strategy evolution and influence key product decisions by applying comprehensive mixed-methods UX research expertise.
• Serve as a strategic research partner to Design, Product Management, and Engineering leaders, articulating a clear research point of view and coordinating efforts across multiple teams.
• Champion high-impact research quality, contribute to research operations, and develop best practice documentation, while providing informal and formal mentorship to other researchers.
• Translate complex data into compelling narratives, visuals, and frameworks that clearly articulate actionable insights and actively influence decision-makers on future product direction.
• Conduct in-depth qualitative research, including field studies and interviews, to understand rider and operational user needs, pain points, and behaviors.
• Design and execute quantitative research, such as surveys and benchmark studies, to validate hypotheses and measure user experience metrics.
• Analyze server logs and other technical data to supplement qualitative findings and provide a holistic understanding of user interaction with Waymo's technology.
• Collaborate closely with UX Designers, Product Managers, and Engineers throughout the product development lifecycle to ensure user insights are integrated effectively.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Waymo's research methodologies and processes, sharing knowledge and advocating for user-centered design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on execution. The requirement to "set the bar for high-impact research quality" and "coordinate production of highly actionable insights" emphasizes the senior nature of the role and its direct impact on product strategy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• BA/BS degree in a Behavioral Science, Human Computer Interaction, or other related UX research field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Preferred: MA/MS/Ph.D. (in progress or completed) in a social science field, Human Factors, or similar.

Experience:

• 5+ years of industry experience conducting end-to-end user research leveraging mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) in a professional context.
• Demonstrated ability to select, execute, and interpret insights from a wide range of methods, including field studies, interviews, surveys, server logs, and benchmark studies.
• Proven track record of owning and successfully completing large-scale, complex projects that resulted in significant, measurable influence on product or project direction.
• Experience demonstrating leadership by creating new research questions and organizing the processes and people required to answer them.
• Experience conducting research on highly technical, emerging products or complex systems with technical teams (e.g., engineering, science, systems).

Required Skills:

• Mixed Methods UX Research: Expertise in designing and executing comprehensive qualitative (e.g., interviews, field studies) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, benchmark studies) research.
• Strategic Planning: Ability to define research scope, develop rigorous research plans, and align them with product strategy for complex, open-ended problems.
• Insight Generation & Communication: Skill in translating complex data into compelling, actionable narratives, visuals, and frameworks for diverse stakeholders.
• Stakeholder Partnership: Proven experience acting as a strategic partner to Design, Product Management, and Engineering leaders, influencing product decisions.
• Technical Acumen: Comfort and experience researching highly technical, emerging products and complex systems with engineering and technical teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Advanced Quantitative Analysis: Experience with advanced survey design, statistical analysis, and data visualization using tools like R/Python and SQL.
• Mentorship & Research Operations: Experience in formally mentoring individual researchers and leading internal efforts to evolve the UX research discipline and best practices.
• Portfolio Development: A portfolio demonstrating experience in structuring research problems in complex or novel domains and user populations.
• Large-Scale Support: Experience supporting a large organization and complex portfolio of products on a small team or as a sole researcher for a domain.
• Discipline Contribution: Contributions to evolving the UX research discipline outside the immediate organization (e.g., conferences, publications, industry participation).
• Behavioral Science Principles: Strong understanding and application of behavioral science theories and methodologies.
• Human-Computer Interaction (HCI): Deep knowledge of HCI principles and their application in product design and research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of methodological rigor, strategic leadership, and technical understanding. The "preferred" skills, particularly advanced quantitative analysis and mentorship, suggest a pathway for growth and a desire for candidates who can elevate the entire research function.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end research projects that demonstrate the ability to tackle complex, ambiguous problems and drive significant product impact.
• Highlight projects where mixed methods were strategically employed to generate deep, actionable insights that directly influenced product strategy or design direction.
• Include examples of how research findings were translated into compelling narratives, visuals, and frameworks that effectively influenced key decision-makers.
• Present case studies demonstrating leadership in defining research roadmaps, coordinating efforts, and driving research quality within a product area.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of contributions to research operations, best practice documentation, or the development of research methodologies within a team or organization.
• Demonstrate experience in structuring research problems and organizing the processes and people needed to address them, especially in novel or technical domains.
• Illustrate how you have proactively identified opportunities for product strategy evolution through rigorous research planning and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher role, the portfolio is critical. It should not just showcase completed projects but also the candidate's strategic thinking, leadership potential, and ability to contribute to the operational maturity of the research function. Emphasis on influence and impact is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $196,000 - $248,000 USD per year.

• Note: Actual starting pay will depend on factors such as exact work location, experience, relevant training, education, and skill level.

Benefits:

• Discretionary Annual Bonus Program: Opportunity to earn an annual bonus based on company and individual performance.
• Equity Incentive Plan: Potential to receive company stock or options as part of the compensation package.
• Generous Company Benefits Program: Comprehensive benefits package likely including health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k), paid time off, parental leave, and other employee wellness programs.

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time position. While standard business hours are typical, the role involves managing complex projects and potentially collaborating across different time zones, suggesting a need for flexibility. Waymo follows a hybrid work schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Senior UX Researcher role in the San Francisco Bay Area, reflecting the high cost of living and the specialized skills required. The inclusion of bonus and equity indicates a performance-driven culture and potential for significant total compensation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Autonomous Driving Technology / Automotive Technology / Software & Hardware Development. Waymo is a pioneer in developing fully autonomous driving technology, aiming to improve mobility and safety. Company Size: Waymo is a significant player in the tech industry, part of Alphabet (Google's parent company), with a substantial number of employees dedicated to its mission. This size offers resources and scale while maintaining a focused, innovative environment. Founded: Waymo began as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, spinning out as an independent company under Alphabet in 2016. This history provides a foundation of deep technical expertise and a long-term vision.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team operates within the broader Design organization at Waymo, which is multidisciplinary.
• This Senior UX Researcher will report to a Manager of Product & Customer Research, indicating a structured reporting line within the research function.
• Collaboration is expected across Design, Product Management, Engineering, and potentially operations teams, requiring strong cross-functional partnership skills.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: Waymo emphasizes rigorous research and data analysis to inform product strategy and development, particularly for complex technical systems.
• User-Centricity: The design philosophy focuses on the total user experience, making new technology accessible, approachable, and useful for everyone, from riders to internal teams.
• Iterative Development: The nature of autonomous driving development suggests a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and iterative improvement based on research findings and real-world data.

Company Website: https://waymo.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Waymo's culture is likely to be highly innovative, data-driven, and focused on tackling complex, long-term challenges. The emphasis on safety, trust, and user experience in autonomous technology will shape the research priorities and methodologies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Senior," indicating a level of expertise beyond entry-level or mid-level. Senior researchers are expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, lead complex projects, influence strategy, and often mentor junior team members. They are key contributors to the research function's capabilities and output. Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher reports to a Manager of Product & Customer Research. This structure provides guidance and strategic alignment while allowing for independent project leadership. Collaboration will extend to Design Leads, Product Managers, and Engineering Leads. Operations Impact: The insights generated by this role will have a direct and significant impact on the Waymo Driver's user experience for riders and the efficiency of operational teams. This includes shaping the future direction of autonomous vehicle technology, accessibility, and safety features, directly contributing to Waymo's mission and business objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to lead research roadmaps for major product areas, mentor junior researchers, and contribute to defining research best practices, paving the way for potential Lead or Principal Researcher roles.
• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in researching highly technical and emerging domains, advanced quantitative methods, or specific user segments (e.g., rider experience, fleet operations).
• Cross-Functional Influence: Enhance strategic partnership skills by working closely with senior leaders across Product, Design, and Engineering to drive product innovation and user-centric decision-making.
• Industry Contribution: Opportunities to contribute to the broader UX research community through publications, conference presentations, or industry initiatives, as indicated by the "preferred" qualifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a significant level of responsibility and potential for impact. Growth opportunities here are tied to both individual contribution and the ability to elevate the research function and its strategic influence within Waymo.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Waymo operates with a hybrid work model. This means a combination of working from home and in-office collaboration. The office environment is designed to foster collaboration and innovation. Office Location(s): The role is based in Mountain View, CA, and San Francisco, CA. These locations are hubs for technology and innovation, offering access to a vibrant ecosystem. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices likely feature modern collaborative spaces, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated research labs or usability testing facilities.
• Technology Access: Researchers will have access to Waymo's internal tools, systems, and data required for conducting comprehensive user research.
• Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages intentional in-office time for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and building relationships with cross-functional partners.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time role. While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, the demands of senior-level research, particularly on complex projects with tight deadlines or cross-timezone collaboration, may require flexibility. The hybrid schedule aims to balance work-life needs with in-person collaboration requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work arrangement is a key aspect. The emphasis on intentional collaboration during in-office days suggests that candidates should be comfortable with this model and able to maximize their in-person interactions for strategic alignment and team building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and conduct an initial screening call to assess basic qualifications and fit.
• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present a portfolio of their work. This is a critical step for senior roles, showcasing end-to-end research capabilities, strategic thinking, and impact. Prepare 2-3 in-depth case studies.
• Research Challenge/Take-Home Assignment: A common step for UX Researcher roles, this might involve analyzing a dataset, designing a research plan for a hypothetical problem, or evaluating an existing product. Focus on demonstrating your methodology and strategic approach.
• Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with Design, Product Management, and Engineering leaders to assess collaboration skills, strategic thinking, and ability to influence cross-functional partners.
• Manager Interview: A final interview with the hiring manager to discuss career aspirations, leadership potential, and overall fit with the team and Waymo's culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio around key projects. For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and responsibilities, the research methods used, key findings, and the resulting impact on the product or business.
• Impact Focus: Quantify the impact of your research whenever possible (e.g., "led to a 15% increase in user task completion," "informed a redesign that reduced support tickets by 10%").
• Process Demonstration: Clearly explain your research process, including how you selected methods, navigated challenges, and collaborated with stakeholders.
• Seniority Demonstration: For senior roles, emphasize strategic contributions, leadership in defining research direction, and mentorship experience.
• Tailor to Waymo: Research Waymo's products and mission. Consider how your past work and research approach align with their goals, especially in autonomous technology and user experience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Thinking: Be prepared to think critically about complex problems and propose well-reasoned research plans.
• Methodological Breadth: Demonstrate fluency in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods, and be able to justify your choices.
• Communication Clarity: Practice articulating complex research findings and strategic recommendations concisely and persuasively.
• Technical Understanding: If the challenge involves technical aspects, show your ability to engage with and understand technical constraints and opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount for senior UX roles. Candidates should prepare to not only present their work but also to discuss their strategic decision-making, leadership capabilities, and how they drive research impact within an organization.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for participant recruitment, scheduling, and remote usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).
• Survey Tools: Platforms for designing and deploying surveys (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).
• Data Analysis Software: Tools for qualitative data analysis (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and quantitative analysis (e.g., SPSS, R, Python, SQL).
• Collaboration Tools: Platforms for team communication and project management (e.g., Slack, Jira, Asana, Google Workspace).
• Design & Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools used by designers (e.g., Figma, Sketch) to understand the design context.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Software for creating charts, graphs, and dashboards to present research findings effectively (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker).
• Web Analytics: Understanding of tools like Google Analytics for analyzing user behavior on digital platforms.
• Server Log Analysis: Experience or ability to work with tools and methods for analyzing server-side data.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user feedback integrates into product development pipelines is important. Familiarity with systems that manage user feedback or product roadmaps may be beneficial.
• Integration Tools: Basic understanding of how different systems might integrate to collect user data.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher, proficiency in a broad range of research tools is expected. The emphasis on "advanced survey design, quantitative analysis, and data visualization using tools like R/Python and SQL" in the preferred qualifications indicates a strong need for candidates with quantitative skills.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user (both riders and internal operators) to ensure Waymo's technology is safe, accessible, and trustworthy.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Reliance on rigorous research and data analysis to inform product strategy and validate design choices, minimizing assumptions.
• Innovation & Curiosity: A drive to explore complex, emerging technologies and tackle ambiguous problems with a spirit of continuous learning and experimentation.
• Collaboration & Partnership: A strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams, building consensus, and integrating insights across disciplines.
• Impact & Accountability: A focus on delivering research that has a measurable impact on product development and business outcomes, taking ownership of research initiatives.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers to ensure research is integrated throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Strategic Alignment: Proactive engagement with leadership to align research priorities with business objectives and product roadmaps.
• Knowledge Sharing: A culture of sharing research findings, methodologies, and best practices across teams to foster a collective understanding of user needs.
• Constructive Feedback: An environment where feedback is openly exchanged to improve research quality, processes, and the overall user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: Waymo's mission-critical nature in autonomous driving means that values around safety, trust, and rigorous validation are likely paramount. The Senior UX Researcher will be expected to embody these values in their work and interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Researching Novelty: Conducting research on highly technical, cutting-edge autonomous driving technology where user behaviors and expectations are still forming.
• Ambiguity & Complexity: Tackling complex, open-ended problems with unclear scope, requiring strong strategic thinking to define research objectives and methodologies.
• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Managing diverse perspectives and priorities from various stakeholders (Product, Design, Engineering, Operations) to ensure research findings are relevant and actionable for all.
• Driving Impact in a Large Organization: Ensuring research insights translate into tangible product changes and business impact within a large, complex organization like Waymo.
• Mentorship Load: Balancing individual research contributions with the responsibility of mentoring junior researchers and elevating the research discipline.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Opportunity to become an expert in the complex domain of autonomous mobility and its user experience implications.
• Advanced Methodologies: Exposure to and application of advanced quantitative analysis, experimental design, and novel research techniques.
• Strategic Influence: Developing skills in influencing product strategy at a senior level and contributing to long-term product roadmaps.
• Leadership Skills: Honing mentorship, team leadership, and research operations management skills.
• Industry Exposure: Potential to engage with industry conferences, publications, and contribute to the advancement of UX research in a cutting-edge field.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in innovative tech companies. The growth opportunities are tied to developing advanced skills, strategic influence, and leadership within Waymo's unique domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to tackle a highly ambiguous research problem. How did you define the scope, choose your methods, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem framing, methodological choices, and impact).
• "How do you prioritize research requests when you have multiple stakeholders with competing needs?" (Highlight prioritization frameworks, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills).
• "Tell me about a complex technical product you've researched. What were the unique challenges, and how did you ensure your research was technically grounded and actionable?" (Showcase technical aptitude and ability to work with engineers).
• "How do you translate complex research findings into compelling narratives that influence senior leaders?" (Prepare to discuss storytelling techniques, data visualization, and strategic communication).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Waymo and the autonomous driving space?" (Connect your passion for user experience with Waymo's mission and technology).
• "How do you see UX research contributing to safety and trust in autonomous vehicles?" (Demonstrate understanding of Waymo's core challenges and values).
• "Describe your experience mentoring junior researchers or contributing to research operations." (Provide specific examples of your leadership and contributions to the discipline).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as narratives with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process and challenges), and end (impact and learnings).
• Visuals: Use clear, concise visuals (e.g., personas, journey maps, key data charts) to illustrate your points. Avoid text-heavy slides.
• Interactive Elements: Be prepared to answer in-depth questions about your process, decisions, and the implications of your findings. Engage the interviewers in a discussion.
• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly state the measurable impact your research had on the product, user experience, or business.
• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with the requirements of a senior researcher role, showcasing strategic thinking, leadership, and experience with complex or technical domains.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just research skills but also strategic leadership, technical understanding, and the ability to drive significant impact in a complex, mission-critical environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Visit the Waymo Careers website and locate the job posting for Senior UX Researcher.
• Submit your comprehensive resume and a compelling cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and interest in Waymo.
• Portfolio Preparation: Curate 2-3 of your strongest UX research case studies that demonstrate end-to-end project ownership, mixed-methods expertise, strategic influence, and measurable impact. Ensure your portfolio clearly outlines your role, process, findings, and outcomes.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize keywords and responsibilities mentioned in the job description, such as "mixed methods," "strategic research," "stakeholder management," "technical research," and "mentorship." Quantify achievements wherever possible.
• Interview Practice: Prepare for typical UX research interview questions, focusing on behavioral examples that showcase your problem-solving skills, collaboration, and leadership. Be ready to articulate your research philosophy and approach.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Waymo's mission, products, recent news, and their approach to autonomous driving technology. Understand the unique challenges and opportunities in this field.

⚠️ 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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