Senior User Researcher, Enterprise & Platform

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior User Researcher, Enterprise & Platform

Company: Glean

Location: San Francisco, CA

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-05T20:18:56

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in-office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the foundational Enterprise and Platform experiences of Glean's Work AI platform, with a specific focus on the administrator persona.

• The Senior User Researcher will drive impactful research initiatives to reduce deployment friction, enhance sandbox and trial experiences, and define the future of agent governance and ROI measurement for enterprise clients.

• This position requires a deep understanding of B2B and enterprise product strategy, with a proven ability to conduct mixed-methods research across the entire product lifecycle.

• The researcher will collaborate closely with Product, Design, Engineering, and GTM teams to translate user insights into actionable product roadmap decisions and ensure customers can fully leverage and demonstrate Glean's value.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior User Researcher," the responsibilities and required experience clearly indicate a role deeply embedded within the product development lifecycle, influencing GTM strategies and directly impacting enterprise customer adoption and value realization. This role is crucial for driving product-market fit within the enterprise segment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end user research for the Enterprise & Platform domain, focusing on the experiences of IT leaders, setup administrators, and citizen developers.

• Conduct foundational, generative, evaluative, and post-launch research using mixed methodologies to inform product strategy and iteration.

• Investigate and provide insights on key product areas including admin onboarding, platform setup, governance and permissions, billing and consumption visibility, and ROI reporting.

• Generate actionable insights that directly contribute to improving product deployment, rollout confidence, adoption rates, and long-term customer value realization.

• Partner closely with Product Management, Design, Engineering, Data Science, and Go-To-Market (GTM) stakeholders to influence product roadmaps and execution strategies.

• Mentor and guide other team members in conducting high-quality evaluative research, fostering a culture of user-centricity.

• Thoughtfully integrate AI tools into the research workflow to enhance efficiency and rigor, while maintaining sound judgment and high-quality outputs.

• Analyze and synthesize qualitative data (e.g., contextual inquiry, journey mapping, Jobs-to-be-Done) and quantitative data (e.g., survey design, statistical literacy, behavioral data triangulation).

• Translate complex enterprise workflows and multi-stakeholder needs into clear research findings and product recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a strong connection between research outcomes and tangible product improvements, particularly concerning enterprise deployment, governance, and value demonstration. The role requires not just research execution but also strategic influence and mentorship.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior User Researcher role to demonstrate foundational understanding of research methodologies and human behavior.

Experience: 5-7+ years of dedicated User Experience Research (UXR) experience, with a strong emphasis on shaping B2B or enterprise product strategy.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record in shaping B2B or enterprise product strategy through user research.

• Deep expertise in researching IT, admin, and builder personas, with a focus on deployment, governance, and configuration within complex software environments.

• Strong systems-thinking capabilities to navigate multi-stakeholder ecosystems (buyers, admins, end-users, security teams).

• Demonstrated ability to connect research findings on ROI, time-to-value, and adoption directly to shipped product decisions in collaboration with PM, Design, and Engineering.

• Mastery of qualitative research methodologies, including contextual inquiry, journey mapping, and Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD).

• Strong quantitative research skills, including survey design, statistical literacy, and triangulation with behavioral product data.

• Self-directed and proactive approach, comfortable scoping, recruiting, and driving research independently in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

• Ability to effectively communicate research findings and recommendations to diverse stakeholders.

• Experience in using AI tools thoughtfully within the research workflow. Preferred Skills:

• Working knowledge of SQL or a scripting language such as Python or R for exploratory data analysis.

• Experience with research related to enterprise security, compliance, or governance.

• Familiarity with developer tools, APIs, platform products, or technical setup workflows.

• Experience with enterprise APIs, MCP, connectors, or integration architecture.

• Background in productivity tools, collaboration software, or knowledge management domains.

• Applied AI proficiency: hands-on experience using AI tools across the research lifecycle with strong judgment regarding rigor, bias, and reliability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "About you" section is directly translated into required and preferred skills. The emphasis on B2B/enterprise experience, systems thinking, and the ability to connect research to tangible product impact and ROI is critical for this role. The inclusion of AI proficiency as both a requirement and a preferred skill highlights Glean's focus on AI-first methodologies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrations of end-to-end research projects, showcasing impact on B2B or enterprise product strategy and development.

• Case studies detailing how research insights led to specific product improvements, particularly in areas like deployment, configuration, governance, or value realization.

• Examples of mixed-methods research application, illustrating the integration of qualitative and quantitative findings.

• Evidence of influencing product roadmaps and collaborating effectively with Product, Design, and Engineering teams.

• Projects that highlight experience with IT, admin, or builder personas in complex software environments. Process Documentation:

• Showcase of research planning and execution processes, including scoping, participant recruitment, and methodology selection.

• Examples of how research findings were synthesized and communicated to drive product decisions and achieve measurable outcomes.

• Documentation of how research was integrated into agile development cycles and product lifecycle stages.

• Evidence of leveraging data (behavioral, survey, statistical) to triangulate findings and validate research hypotheses.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UXR role, a strong portfolio is paramount. It should not just present research findings but demonstrate the researcher's strategic thinking, impact on product development, and ability to navigate complex enterprise environments. Emphasis should be placed on how research directly contributed to business objectives like adoption, value, and governance.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $185,000 - $210,000 annually (USD)

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental coverage.

• Generous time-off policy.

• 401k plan for long-term financial support.

• Home office improvement stipend.

• Annual education stipend to support professional development.

• Annual wellness stipend to support overall well-being.

• Daily healthy lunches provided at the office. Working Hours:

• The role is designated as full-time, typically implying around 40 hours per week.

• It operates on a hybrid model, requiring 4 days per week in the San Francisco office, suggesting a structured yet flexible work schedule that balances in-person collaboration with individual focus time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for the San Francisco, CA area. San Francisco is a high cost-of-living city, and this range is competitive for a Senior User Researcher role with 5-7+ years of experience in the tech industry. The benefits package is comprehensive and includes unique stipends that support professional growth and well-being, reflecting a modern tech company's approach to employee support.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Software (Artificial Intelligence, Enterprise Search, Work AI Platform)

Company Size: 1,000+ employees. This indicates a rapidly growing, established scale-up or mid-stage enterprise, offering opportunities for impact and career growth while likely maintaining a relatively agile operational structure.

Founded: Glean was founded with the mission to redefine how enterprises find, use, and act on knowledge, evolving into a comprehensive Work AI ecosystem. This background suggests a culture driven by innovation, AI advancement, and a strong focus on solving complex enterprise data challenges.

Team Structure:

• The Senior User Researcher will be part of the Design team, described as a "tight-knit and collaborative group."

• This researcher will focus specifically on the "Enterprise & Platform" area, implying a dedicated sub-team or focus group within the broader product organization.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product, Design, Engineering, Data Science, and GTM teams, highlighting a cross-functional, integrated approach to product development. Methodology:

• Glean emphasizes an "AI-First Mindset," integrating AI tools across workflows and expecting employees to be AI-fluent.

• The company's approach to product development is user-centric, with research playing a critical role in shaping strategy and execution.

• A strong focus on data-driven decision-making, evidenced by the need for mixed-methods research and the integration of behavioral product data.

• Emphasis on solving complex enterprise challenges, focusing on areas like deployment, governance, security, and ROI.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Glean's positioning as a leader in "Work AI" and its recognition by prominent tech publications suggest a forward-thinking, innovative, and high-growth environment. The company culture likely values deep technical expertise, collaborative problem-solving, and a proactive approach to leveraging AI. The emphasis on enterprise solutions means a focus on reliability, security, and demonstrable business value.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior User Researcher. This level signifies a seasoned professional expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, lead complex research initiatives, mentor others, and significantly influence product strategy. The focus on the "Enterprise & Platform" area suggests a specialization within the broader user research discipline, targeting critical B2B product segments.

Reporting Structure: The role is part of the Design team, likely reporting to a Design Manager or Director of UX Research. The emphasis on close collaboration with Product, Engineering, and GTM indicates a matrixed reporting or strong stakeholder influence rather than a strict hierarchical command structure for day-to-day work.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to the success of Glean's enterprise adoption and customer value. By understanding and improving the experiences of IT administrators and builders, the researcher directly influences:

• Deployment Success: Reducing friction and increasing confidence in setting up Glean.

• Adoption Rates: Ensuring administrators can effectively roll out Glean to end-users.

• Governance & Security: Enabling robust control and compliance for enterprise clients.

• Demonstrable ROI: Helping customers quantify and prove the business value of Glean.

• Platform Expansion: Identifying opportunities for new features and capabilities that enhance the platform's enterprise appeal.

Growth Opportunities:

• Team Growth: Potential to help grow and shape the UXR function within Glean, especially within the Enterprise & Platform domain.

• Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior researchers and lead strategic research initiatives, potentially paving a path towards a Lead or Principal Researcher role.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in enterprise software, AI product research, and complex B2B customer journeys.

• Cross-functional Influence: Expand influence across product, engineering, and GTM teams, becoming a key strategic partner.

• AI Integration: Become a thought leader in applying AI tools to UX research methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title coupled with the focus on a critical enterprise area suggests a role with significant strategic weight and visibility. The growth opportunities lean towards deepening expertise, influencing product direction, and potentially taking on leadership responsibilities within a growing research team in an AI-focused company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Glean operates a hybrid work model, requiring 4 days per week in their San Francisco office. This suggests a modern office designed for collaboration, team interaction, and focused work, with amenities to support a productive in-office experience.

Office Location(s): San Francisco, CA. This location places the employee in a vibrant tech hub, offering access to networking opportunities and a strong talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional collaboration suggest an environment where team members work together closely on-site, fostering brainstorming and knowledge sharing.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to Glean's own Work AI platform, along with standard productivity and collaboration tools. The role may involve using specialized research tools and potentially data analysis software (SQL, Python, R).

• Team Interaction: The 4-day in-office requirement facilitates regular interaction with Product, Design, Engineering, and GTM counterparts, crucial for a researcher tasked with influencing roadmaps and integrating insights.

Work Schedule:

• A standard full-time work schedule (approx. 40 hours/week) is implied.

• The hybrid nature provides flexibility, allowing for focused work at home and collaborative sessions in the office. This structure is beneficial for research tasks that require deep concentration alongside team sync-ups.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with 4 days in-office indicates a company culture that values in-person collaboration and team cohesion, while also recognizing the need for individual focus and flexibility. The San Francisco location is a premium tech market, suggesting a dynamic and competitive work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, likely assessing for alignment with the core requirements and experience.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into your experience, research philosophy, and fit for the Senior UXR role and the Enterprise & Platform team.

3. Portfolio Presentation: A core part of the process will be presenting your portfolio, showcasing 2-3 key projects that demonstrate your end-to-end research capabilities, impact on B2B/enterprise products, and ability to work with complex personas.

4. Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and potentially GTM stakeholders to assess collaboration skills, strategic thinking, and ability to integrate research into product development.

5. AI-Focused Exercise/Discussion: As highlighted, an AI-focused exercise or discussion to gauge your comfort and proficiency with AI tools in research.

6. Final Interview: Potentially a final interview with a Design or Product leader to confirm overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business problem, your research approach, the key insights, and most importantly, the impact your research had on the product and business outcomes (e.g., improved adoption, reduced friction, increased customer value). Quantify impact where possible.

• Showcase Enterprise/B2B Experience: Highlight projects involving complex enterprise workflows, IT/admin personas, governance, deployment, or ROI measurement.

• Demonstrate Mixed-Methods: Present projects that effectively integrate qualitative and quantitative findings, showing how you triangulated data for robust conclusions.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives: the challenge, your role, the process, the findings, the recommendations, and the outcome.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect interviewers to ask detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making process, and how you handled challenges.

• Highlight Collaboration: Show how you partnered with PMs, Designers, and Engineers to ensure your insights were understood and acted upon.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI Integration: Be ready to discuss how you've used or would use AI tools in your research process (e.g., for transcription, synthesis, persona generation, hypothesis generation) and your thoughts on maintaining rigor and ethical considerations.

• Enterprise Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would approach research for complex enterprise features like governance, security, or multi-tenant platforms.

• Stakeholder Management: Practice articulating how you would influence stakeholders who may have different priorities or skepticism towards research findings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application, collaboration, and strategic thinking. The portfolio review is critical and should be tailored to showcase experience relevant to Glean's enterprise focus and AI-first approach. The AI exercise is a unique differentiator for this role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

• Collaboration Tools: Standard project management and communication platforms (e.g., Slack, Jira, Confluence, Asana).

• Design Tools: For reviewing prototypes and designs (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).

• AI Tools: The company explicitly mentions using AI tools across the research workflow. This could include AI-powered transcription services, sentiment analysis tools, synthesis aids, or generative AI for ideation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: For analyzing user behavior data (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Pendo) – understanding how users interact with the platform post-deployment.

• Data Analysis Tools: Potentially SQL for querying databases, or scripting languages like Python/R for more advanced statistical analysis and data manipulation, as noted in the preferred skills.

• Business Intelligence Tools: For creating dashboards and reports to visualize key metrics and research findings (e.g., Tableau, Looker).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly used by UXR daily, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) informs customer segmentation and B2B sales cycles can be beneficial.

• Integration Tools: Familiarity with how different enterprise applications connect and function, given Glean's extensive connector ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack reflects a modern, data-driven product development environment. Proficiency in standard UXR tools is expected, alongside an increasing need for data analysis skills (SQL, Python/R) and comfort with AI-assisted research workflows. Understanding the broader enterprise SaaS ecosystem is also a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• AI-First Mindset: A core value where employees are encouraged to integrate AI into their daily work, driving efficiency and innovation.

• Customer Centricity: Deep understanding of customer needs, particularly enterprise clients, to drive product value and satisfaction.

• Innovation & Impact: A drive to solve complex problems and create significant business impact through advanced technology like Work AI.

• Collaboration & Ownership: Working effectively in cross-functional teams and taking ownership of research initiatives from start to finish.

• Rigor & Judgment: Maintaining high standards of research quality and making sound, ethical decisions, especially when integrating AI tools.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close partnerships with Product, Design, Engineering, and GTM are essential, requiring proactive communication and the ability to influence diverse stakeholders.

• Data-Driven Discussions: Research findings and data analysis form the basis for product strategy discussions.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: Senior members are expected to mentor others, fostering a learning environment, especially around AI integration and research best practices.

• Agile and Iterative: The team likely operates in an agile framework, valuing quick iteration based on user feedback and data.

📝 Enhancement Note: Glean's stated values, particularly the "AI-First Mindset," are central to its culture. The collaborative style is geared towards rapid product development and iteration, with a strong emphasis on data and user insights as the foundation for decision-making.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Enterprise Workflows: Researching highly technical and multi-layered enterprise environments (IT admins, governance, security) requires deep domain understanding and the ability to navigate intricate systems.

• Balancing Competing Needs: Enterprise clients often have diverse and sometimes conflicting requirements (e.g., security vs. usability, IT control vs. end-user productivity). Research must balance these.

• Demonstrating ROI: Proving the tangible business value of an AI platform like Glean to enterprise customers is a key challenge that research must directly address.

• Rapid AI Evolution: Keeping pace with the rapid advancements in AI and effectively integrating new tools and methodologies into research practice while maintaining rigor.

• Ambiguity in Fast-Paced Environment: Navigating a fast-growing company with evolving priorities requires adaptability and the ability to define research scope independently.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Enterprise Domain Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of enterprise IT landscapes, security protocols, and governance frameworks.

• AI in Research Leadership: Become a pioneer in applying AI tools and techniques to UX research, shaping best practices for the industry.

• Strategic Product Influence: Develop skills in influencing product roadmaps and driving significant business impact within a high-growth tech company.

• Mentorship & Team Building: Opportunities to mentor junior researchers and contribute to the growth and development of the UXR team.

• Industry Exposure: Glean's reputation and growth offer exposure to cutting-edge AI technology and enterprise solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles in innovative enterprise SaaS companies, requiring strong problem-solving skills and adaptability. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to shape a critical function within a leading AI company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced an enterprise product roadmap based on your research. What was the challenge, your approach, and the outcome?" (Focus on impact and collaboration)

• "How would you approach researching the 'deployment friction' for a new enterprise SaaS platform like Glean? What methods would you use, and what key questions would you ask?" (Demonstrate your research planning skills for enterprise scenarios)

• "Discuss your experience with researching IT administrators or similar technical personas. What are the unique challenges and considerations?" (Highlight relevant persona expertise)

• "How do you balance the needs of different stakeholders (e.g., IT, end-users, security, legal) in your research and recommendations?" (Assess your systems-thinking and negotiation skills) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Glean has an 'AI-First Mindset.' How do you see AI tools enhancing your UX research process, and what are your concerns regarding rigor and bias?" (Prepare specific examples of AI tool usage and your critical perspective)

• "What excites you about Glean's mission to redefine how enterprises 'work smarter with AI'?" (Show genuine interest and understanding of Glean's product and market)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment and collaborating with cross-functional teams." (Highlight your ability to thrive in this setup) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select High-Impact Projects: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your expertise in B2B/enterprise research, mixed-methods, and demonstrable product impact.

• Quantify Outcomes: Where possible, use metrics to show the success of product changes driven by your research (e.g., X% reduction in support tickets, Y% increase in adoption, Z hours saved per admin).

• Explain Your Process Clearly: Walk through your methodology, decision-making, and how you adapted to challenges.

• Focus on the 'So What?': Clearly articulate the insights, your recommendations, and how they translated into actionable product decisions and business value.

• Be Ready for Follow-up Questions: Anticipate questions about your role, contributions, and how you would apply your learnings to Glean's specific challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: A deep dive into how you apply research to enterprise challenges, your understanding of AI in research, and your ability to demonstrate tangible impact are crucial. The portfolio is your primary tool to showcase this.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior User Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 5-7+ years of experience, specifically emphasizing your B2B/enterprise product strategy, IT/admin persona research, and mixed-methods expertise. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare your portfolio: Select 2-3 impactful case studies that showcase your end-to-end research process, your ability to drive product decisions, and your experience in enterprise environments. Focus on quantifiable outcomes and clear articulation of insights and impact.

• Research Glean: Understand Glean's Work AI platform, its target market (enterprise), its competitors, and its mission. Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with their "AI-First Mindset."

• Practice AI Integration Discussion: Think about specific AI tools you've used or would use in UX research, and be ready to articulate your approach and rationale.

⚠️ 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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