Senior UX Researcher, PSS UX
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Senior UX Researcher, PSS UX Company: Google Location: Zürich, ZH, Switzerland Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience Research (UXR) / Product Operations Date Posted: October 8, 2025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Role Summary
- This Senior UX Researcher role is critical for driving user-centered product development within Google's PSS UX team, focusing on the technical foundation of flagship products.
- Responsibilities include leading research initiatives, synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data, and translating complex user insights into actionable recommendations for product and engineering teams.
- The role demands strong collaboration skills to work with Designers, Product Managers, and Engineers, influencing product strategy and ensuring user needs are met across the product development lifecycle.
- Success hinges on the ability to communicate research findings effectively through written reports and presentations, impacting product direction and ensuring the creation of useful, usable, and delightful user experiences.
📝 Enhancement Note: While the initial job description is for a UX Researcher, the context provided (focus on technical foundation, PSS UX, cyber threats, core team building) strongly suggests a role that bridges traditional UX Research with elements of Product Operations and GTM enablement. The emphasis on "impact at all stages of product development" and "driving user experience for Google's businesses" indicates a strategic operational component.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
- Lead the design, planning, and execution of rigorous, high-quality user research studies using a variety of methodological approaches (foundational, exploratory, evaluative) across the entire product development lifecycle.
- Conduct primary research such as field studies, interviews, diary studies, participatory workshops, ethnography, surveys, and usability testing to uncover user behaviors, motivations, needs, pain points, and opportunities.
- Synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data from diverse sources (surveys, interviews, log analysis, etc.) to generate actionable insights that directly inform product strategy and design decisions.
- Prioritize research opportunities in a fast-paced environment, collaborating closely with Designers, Product Managers, Engineers, and other UX Researchers to align research efforts with business objectives.
- Develop and lead research roadmaps for multi-phase projects across the PSS UX portfolio, ensuring research efforts are strategic and impactful.
- Communicate research findings effectively to cross-functional partners and stakeholders at all levels through compelling written reports, presentations, and other artifacts.
- Advocate for the user throughout the product development process, ensuring user needs, pain points, and constraints are understood and addressed.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of research methodologies and best practices within the UX community at Google.
- Apply UXR skills to contribute to Google's mission of ensuring resilience against sophisticated cyber threats, impacting the safety and security of the digital world.
📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "leading research roadmaps with multi-phase projects across the portfolio" and the context of "building the technical foundation behind Google’s flagship products" points to a strategic operations function where research directly fuels product strategy and operational efficiency.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Experience:
- Minimum of 6 years of experience in an applied research setting (e.g., product development, academic research), with a strong track record of delivering impactful research.
- Preferred: 7 years of experience in a variety of product spaces, applied research settings, or academic settings.
Required Skills:
- Demonstrated expertise in research design, utilizing a wide range of research methods (e.g., usability studies, contextual inquiry, surveys, interviews, ethnography, diary studies).
- Proven experience in product research across end-to-end product development, usability testing, or generative research settings.
- Ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative data to generate actionable insights and inform product strategy.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify user needs, pain points, and opportunities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex findings clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Designers, Product Managers, and Engineers.
- Experience in influencing product direction and driving user-centered design decisions.
Preferred Skills:
- Deep understanding of the strengths and shortcomings of various research methods, and the ability to strategically apply them throughout the product development process.
- Experience with research in complex technical domains, such as core infrastructure, security, or platform development.
- Ability to showcase a strong portfolio highlighting multiple projects that demonstrate research methodology application and research artifacts (e.g., reports, documents, personas, journey maps).
- Experience in leading research roadmaps and managing multi-phase research projects.
- Familiarity with data analysis tools and techniques, including survey platforms and log analysis.
- Experience in communicating user research findings to drive impact across different levels of an organization.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "6 years of experience in an applied research setting" and "7 years of experience in a variety of product spaces" indicate a senior-level role that requires not just execution but also strategic planning and leadership in research operations. The portfolio requirement is crucial for demonstrating this strategic capability.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-4 significant projects that demonstrate a deep understanding and application of various research methodologies.
- Evidence of end-to-end research involvement, from initial problem definition and research design to data synthesis, insight generation, and impact assessment.
- Documentation of research artifacts such as detailed study plans, interview guides, survey questionnaires, personas, journey maps, and comprehensive research reports.
- Clear articulation of the research questions, methodologies employed, key findings, and the tangible impact of the research on product decisions and user experience improvements.
- Examples of how research insights were communicated and socialized with product, design, and engineering teams to drive adoption and influence product direction.
Process Documentation:
- Demonstrated ability to document research processes, including methodology selection rationale, data collection protocols, and analysis frameworks.
- Experience in creating clear, concise research reports that effectively communicate complex findings and actionable recommendations to both research and non-research audiences.
- Examples of research roadmaps or project plans that outline multi-phase research initiatives, demonstrating strategic planning and project management capabilities.
- Understanding of how research findings integrate into broader product development workflows and operational processes.
📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio with "multiple projects that demonstrate research methodology application and research artifacts like reports, documents, personas, journey maps, etc." is a strong indicator of the need for candidates to showcase their operational process execution and ability to produce tangible assets that inform product strategy. This is a key component for operational roles.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range:
- To be determined. Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX Researchers in Zürich, Switzerland, and Google's compensation structure, a competitive salary range is expected to be between CHF 120,000 and CHF 160,000 annually, depending on experience, qualifications, and specific role responsibilities.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision).
- Generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick leave).
- Retirement savings plan (pension scheme).
- Stock options or grants (RSUs).
- Professional development opportunities, including access to internal research tools, training, and conferences.
- Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.
- Subsidized meals and on-site amenities (if applicable to the Zürich office).
- Potential for relocation assistance.
Working Hours:
- Standard full-time work week, typically 40 hours, with flexibility. Google emphasizes a results-oriented work environment, allowing for some autonomy in managing work schedules to meet project deadlines and research objectives. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to accommodate user availability for research studies or to meet critical project timelines.
📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on senior-level UX Researcher positions in Zürich, Switzerland, leveraging data from reputable compensation platforms and considering Google's typical compensation practices for similar roles. The benefits listed are standard for large tech companies like Google and are tailored to attract and retain top talent in specialized roles.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Technology (Software, Internet Services, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity) Company Size: Large (100,000+ employees globally) Founded: 1998 Company Description: Google is a global technology leader renowned for its search engine, online advertising technologies, cloud computing, computer software, and hardware. The company is dedicated to organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful, with a strong focus on innovation, user experience, and developing cutting-edge technologies. Company Specialties: Search Engine Technology, Online Advertising, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Software Development, Hardware Engineering, User Experience Design, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity Solutions.
Team Structure:
- The PSS UX team is part of a larger User Experience (UX) organization within Google, comprised of multi-disciplinary professionals including UX Designers, Researchers, Writers, Content Strategists, Program Managers, and Engineers.
- This specific role is within the "Core team," which builds the technical foundation and essential building blocks for Google's flagship products.
- The UXR will likely report to a UX Research Manager or Lead and work closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and UX Designers on specific product initiatives.
- The team operates with a high degree of cross-functional collaboration, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives contribute to product excellence.
Methodology:
- Data-Driven Decision Making: A core tenet, with research insights forming the bedrock of product strategy and design choices.
- User-Centricity: The "Focus on the user and all else will follow" philosophy is paramount, ensuring products are built with deep user understanding.
- Iterative Development: Research is integrated throughout the product lifecycle, supporting agile and iterative development processes.
- Rigorous Research: Emphasis on sound research design and execution, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods to ensure validity and reliability of findings.
- Impact Orientation: Focus on translating research into tangible product improvements and business outcomes.
Company Website: google.com
📝 Enhancement Note: The context of Google's "Core team" and "PSS UX" indicates a role focused on foundational technologies, likely involving complex systems and security aspects, which requires a research approach grounded in deep technical understanding and a strong emphasis on operational resilience and security.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: Senior UX Researcher. This level implies significant autonomy, the ability to lead complex projects independently, mentor junior researchers, and contribute to strategic research planning. The role is expected to have substantial influence on product direction and operational effectiveness within the PSS UX domain.
Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will report to a UX Research Manager or Lead within the PSS UX organization. They will work closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and UX Designers on project teams. Collaboration extends to a broader UXR community within Google, offering opportunities for knowledge sharing and mentorship.
Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the operational effectiveness and user experience of Google's core technical infrastructure and flagship products. By ensuring products are built with a deep understanding of user needs and potential security vulnerabilities, the UXR contributes to product reliability, user adoption, and the overall security posture of Google's services. The insights generated will inform product roadmaps, feature prioritization, and the development of robust, user-friendly systems that are resilient against cyber threats.
Growth Opportunities:
- Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific research methodologies or product areas within Google's vast portfolio, particularly in technical foundations and cybersecurity.
- Leadership: Progression to Lead UX Researcher, UX Research Manager, or Principal UX Researcher roles, involving greater strategic oversight, team leadership, and mentorship responsibilities.
- Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to move into related roles within Product Management, UX Design, or GTM Operations, leveraging a strong understanding of user needs and product development processes.
- Continuous Learning: Access to Google's extensive internal learning resources, training programs, mentorship opportunities, and participation in industry conferences to stay at the forefront of UX research and operations.
- Impactful Projects: Opportunity to work on high-visibility, mission-critical projects that have a significant impact on millions of users and Google's business objectives.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and the focus on "technical foundation" and "cyber threats" suggest a role with significant strategic impact, requiring strong analytical and problem-solving skills that are key in operational environments driving efficiency and resilience.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: Google's Zürich office is a modern, state-of-the-art facility designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and employee well-being. It typically includes open workspaces, private meeting rooms, collaborative hubs, and amenities to support productivity and comfort.
Office Location(s): The primary work location is Zürich, Switzerland. Google's Zürich campus is known for its vibrant atmosphere and commitment to creating an inspiring work environment. Access and commute information would be specific to the office's location within Zürich.
Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Environment: The workspace is designed to encourage interaction and knowledge sharing among team members. Expect a dynamic environment with frequent cross-functional meetings and collaborative sessions.
- Tools and Technology: Access to Google's proprietary research tools, advanced analytics platforms, and robust IT infrastructure to support research activities and data analysis.
- Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage with a diverse team of researchers, designers, product managers, and engineers, fostering a rich learning and problem-solving ecosystem.
Work Schedule: While the standard is a 40-hour work week, Google promotes flexibility. This allows researchers to manage their time effectively to conduct studies when participants are available, analyze data, and produce high-quality deliverables. While on-site presence is expected, the company culture often supports a balance between structured work and flexible scheduling to achieve optimal research outcomes and operational efficiency.
📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on collaboration and access to advanced tools directly relates to the operational success of a UX Researcher, enabling efficient data collection, analysis, and communication crucial for driving product improvements.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- Initial Screening: A recruiter will review your application, focusing on your resume and portfolio. Be prepared to highlight your most relevant UX research experience and impact.
- Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to assess your experience, research philosophy, and fit with the team's needs. This may include behavioral questions and a high-level overview of your portfolio.
- Portfolio Review Session: A dedicated session where you will present selected projects from your portfolio to a panel of UX researchers and potentially cross-functional partners. This is a critical stage to demonstrate your research methodology, analytical skills, and ability to drive impact.
- Technical/Research Skills Interviews: Sessions focused on specific research methodologies, problem-solving scenarios, and your approach to tackling complex research challenges. Expect to discuss how you would design and execute studies for specific product areas.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration Interview: An interview to assess your ability to work effectively with designers, product managers, and engineers, and to communicate research findings to drive consensus and action.
- Final Interview: A concluding interview, often with a senior leader, to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and long-term potential.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 projects that best showcase your breadth of experience, methodological rigor, and impact. Prioritize projects relevant to Google's product areas (e.g., technical infrastructure, security, user productivity).
- Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate: the problem/opportunity, your role, the research questions, the methodologies used and why, key findings, actionable insights, and the impact on the product and business. Use visuals to illustrate your process and findings.
- Highlight Process & Rationale: Explain why you chose specific methods, how you adapted them, and how you synthesized data. Demonstrate your critical thinking and problem-solving approach.
- Focus on Impact: Quantify the impact of your research whenever possible (e.g., improvements in usability metrics, increased adoption rates, reduction in support tickets).
- Demonstrate Collaboration: Show how you worked with cross-functional teams and influenced decision-making.
- Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your methodology, challenges encountered, and how you handled them. Be ready to discuss your approach to ethical research and data privacy.
Challenge Preparation:
- Research Design Scenarios: Be prepared to outline how you would approach research for a hypothetical product or feature, considering the target user, research goals, and available resources.
- Data Synthesis & Insight Generation: Practice synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data into clear, compelling insights.
- Communication & Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio projects concisely and engagingly, tailoring your message to different audiences.
- Understanding Google's Products: Familiarize yourself with Google's core products, particularly those related to infrastructure, security, and productivity, as well as Google's stated mission and values.
📝 Enhancement Note: The multi-stage interview process and emphasis on portfolio review are typical for senior-level roles in tech, especially those requiring strong analytical and communication skills. The portfolio is the primary tool for demonstrating operational proficiency and strategic thinking.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote usability testing, surveys, and interviews (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).
- Data Analysis Software: Tools for qualitative data analysis (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and quantitative data analysis (e.g., R, Python with pandas, SPSS, Excel).
- Collaboration Tools: Google Workspace suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet), JIRA, Confluence, Slack for team communication and project management.
- Prototyping & Design Tools (for collaboration): Familiarity with tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD to understand and iterate on design artifacts.
Analytics & Reporting:
- Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Looker (Google's own BI platform), or similar for creating dashboards and reports to communicate findings.
- Web Analytics Tools: Google Analytics to understand user behavior on Google's web properties.
- Log Analysis Tools: Familiarity with analyzing user interaction logs to identify patterns and issues.
CRM & Automation:
- While not directly managing CRM, understanding how user data is captured and utilized within systems like Salesforce or internal Google tools is beneficial for contextualizing research.
- Familiarity with automation concepts in data collection and analysis processes.
📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with a range of research tools, data analysis software, and collaborative platforms is essential for operational efficiency and effectiveness in a Senior UX Researcher role, especially within a large tech organization like Google.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- User Focus: Deep commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs, ensuring products are useful, usable, and delightful.
- Impact Driven: Focus on delivering research that leads to tangible improvements in product quality, user experience, and business outcomes.
- Data-Informed: Reliance on rigorous data analysis and synthesis to guide decisions and validate hypotheses.
- Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams, valuing diverse perspectives and collective problem-solving.
- Innovation & Curiosity: A culture that encourages exploration, experimentation, and continuous learning to push the boundaries of what's possible.
- Integrity & Responsibility: Upholding ethical research practices, ensuring data privacy, and contributing to Google's mission of safety and security.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-Functional Integration: UXRs are integral members of product teams, working closely with PMs, Engineers, and Designers from inception to launch and beyond.
- Open Communication: Encourages direct, honest, and constructive feedback. Researchers are expected to articulate their findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively.
- Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in internal research communities, sharing best practices, lessons learned, and participating in mentorship programs.
- Agile & Iterative: Embraces flexible and iterative approaches to product development, with research integrated throughout the process to provide timely feedback.
📝 Enhancement Note: The values listed reflect Google's overarching culture but are specifically framed through the lens of operations and research, emphasizing data-driven decisions, impact, and collaborative problem-solving, which are critical for operational success.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Scale and Complexity: Researching for Google's massive, complex products and technical infrastructure, impacting millions of users globally, presents unique research design and analysis challenges.
- Pace of Innovation: The fast-paced environment requires researchers to be adaptable, efficient, and able to deliver insights quickly without compromising rigor.
- Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring research findings are understood, accepted, and acted upon by diverse stakeholders with varying priorities and perspectives.
- Translating Insights into Action: Moving beyond reporting findings to actively driving product changes and operational improvements based on research.
- Focusing Research: Prioritizing research efforts in a broad product landscape to maximize impact and address the most critical user needs and business questions.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Advanced Methodologies: Access to training and opportunities to explore cutting-edge research techniques and tools.
- Specialized Domains: Deep dive into areas like cybersecurity, AI/ML, or core infrastructure through research projects.
- Leadership Training: Development programs for aspiring research leads and managers.
- Industry Engagement: Opportunities to attend and present at leading UX and research conferences.
- Mentorship: Access to a vast network of experienced researchers for guidance and support.
📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges and framing them as growth opportunities is key for operations roles. This highlights the candidate's ability to navigate complex environments and contribute to continuous improvement.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- Scenario-Based Strategy: "Imagine you need to research the usability of a new security feature for developers on Google Cloud. How would you approach this, considering potential user expertise and the impact of errors?" (Focus on research design, methodology selection, and risk mitigation).
- Impact & Influence: "Describe a time your research findings led to a significant product change or strategic shift. How did you influence stakeholders to adopt your recommendations?" (Focus on communication, persuasion, and driving action).
- Methodology Justification: "When would you choose a diary study over a usability test for understanding long-term user behavior with a complex technical tool? What are the trade-offs?" (Focus on methodological understanding and strategic application).
Company & Culture Questions:
- Google's Mission: "How do you see your role as a UX Researcher contributing to Google's mission of organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful, particularly within the PSS UX context?" (Focus on alignment with company values and strategic contribution).
- Collaboration: "Describe your experience working with engineers and product managers. How do you ensure effective collaboration and integration of research into their workflows?" (Focus on teamwork and operational integration).
- Ethical Research: "How do you approach ethical considerations and data privacy in your research, especially when dealing with sensitive user data?" (Focus on integrity and responsible operations).
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Concise Storytelling: Structure your presentation around clear narratives for each project, focusing on the problem, your approach, key insights, and the resulting impact. Aim for ~5-7 minutes per project.
- Visual Aids: Use visually appealing slides that highlight key artifacts (e.g., journey maps, personas, report summaries) without overwhelming detail.
- Audience Awareness: Tailor your language and focus based on the interviewers' roles (e.g., emphasize technical rigor for researchers, business impact for PMs).
- Demonstrate Process: Clearly articulate your thought process, from research questions to synthesis and recommendations. Show your understanding of why you did what you did.
- Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, data analysis, and how you handled challenges.
📝 Enhancement Note: Specific strategy and portfolio presentation tips are tailored to a senior UX researcher role, emphasizing the need to demonstrate not just research skills but also strategic thinking, operational execution, and cross-functional influence.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:
- Submit your application through the official Google Careers portal via the provided URL.
- Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your experience with complex technical products, research methodologies relevant to infrastructure and security, and your ability to drive impact in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment. Select projects that best exemplify your strategic thinking and operational execution.
- Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of experience, specific research methodologies employed, tools mastered, and quantifiable achievements. Use keywords from the job description like "applied research," "product development lifecycle," "qualitative and quantitative data," and "cross-functional collaboration."
- Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Mentally rehearse presenting your chosen portfolio projects, focusing on clear narratives, impactful insights, and demonstrating your process and strategic decision-making. Practice articulating your role and the impact of your work.
- Company & Role Research: Deeply research Google's PSS UX team, the "Core team's" mission, and their focus on technical foundations and cybersecurity. Understand Google's user-centric philosophy and how your role contributes to these broader objectives.
⚠️ 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.
Application Requirements
Candidates must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience and at least 6 years in applied research settings. Preferred qualifications include 7 years of experience and a strong understanding of various research methods.