Team Overview: We are the AI and innovation research team within Platforms & Devices org. Our team focuses on accelerating development, transforming user experiences, and amplifying market leadership through cutting-edge AI capabilities. Our team is at the forefront of a fundamental paradigm shift in software development. We are building the foundational AI frameworks and agentic systems that will transform the developer's role from a "Coder" to a "Conductor" of AI agents. Our mission is to deliver transformative value to both professional developers working on massive codebases and a new generation of non-technical creators. This is a unique opportunity to define the user experience for the future of software creation.
Role Description: As a Senior UX Researcher, you will be the voice of the developer in this new, uncharted territory. Working in a fast-paced environment with 2-week sprints, you will lead foundational and evaluative research to understand the evolving needs, mental models, and pain points of developers interacting with agentic AI. Your insights will directly shape the strategy and design of next-generation IDEs and developer tools.
Responsibilities:
- Work with UXR lead and designers, product managers, and engineers to prioritize research opportunities in a fast-paced environment.
- Craft and conduct research studies based on team needs (could include usability testing, user interviews, concept testing, surveys, desk research, etc.)
- Plan and manage study sessions, including preparing study scripts and recruiting, screening and scheduling participants.
- Analyze qualitative and quantitative data.
- Communicate research findings to diverse audiences through presentations, reports, etc.
- Contribute to research operations and research team tooling by helping to stand-up and own process, projects, and tools that further our best practices.
- 3+ years of experience as a UX Researcher.
- B.S./B.A. degree in Anthropology, Human Factors, Psychology, HCI/Computer Science or other related fields or equivalent practical experience.
- Demonstrated understanding of the strengths and shortcomings of different research methods, including when and how to apply them during the product development process.
- Experience conducting semi-structured interviews, contextual field visits, usability studies (either live or remote).
- Knowledgeable in quantitative and qualitative analysis.
- M.S./M.A. or Ph.D. in a related field or equivalent practical experience.
- Related work experience in (or knowledge of) AI, machine learning, or automated features.
- Experience with technology innovation in an early-stage or start-up environment.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Lead foundational research to uncover the mental models of developers as they shift from writing code to prompting, reviewing, and orchestrating AI agents.
- Design and execute studies to evaluate Client interaction models (e.g., multi-agent control panels, visual node graphs) for managing and debugging a "virtual workforce" of AI agents.
- Investigate critical user journeys for both professional developers (addressing the "last 30% problem" in XXL codebases) and non-technical creators ("vibe coding").
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners in Product, Design (UXD), and Engineering, as well as partner teams like PDEIO, to ensure research is actionable and impactful.
- Synthesize and communicate findings to key stakeholders, helping to build a deep, shared understanding of our users in this rapidly evolving domain.
- Extensive experience in UX Research, with a portfolio demonstrating impact on complex products.
- Proven experience conducting research with developer audiences on developer productivity themes.
- Senior-level ability to work autonomously, scope large research questions, and drive projects from planning to impact.
- Deep familiarity with both qualitative (interviews, cognitive walkthroughs) and quantitative research methods.
- Experience researching expert tools, enterprise software, or other complex domains.
- Familiarity with AI/ML concepts, LLMs, and emerging agentic systems.