Senior User Researcher

We are seeking a Senior User Researcherto join our multi-disciplinary team of over 60 user researchers and planners working on a breadth of experiences acrossMicrosoft 365 (M365).In this position, you'll be part of the team responsible for reimagining Outlook products by leveraging AI and Microsoft Copilot to transform how millions of people communicate every day. You will work closely with designers, product managers, and engineers to define and deliver innovative AI powered solutions that empower people and teams to work more effectively and efficiently.

In this specific role, you willbe responsible forbringing the user experienceand competitive insights to the teams delivering on core communication and productivity experiences both within Outlook and across M365 Copilot. You'llleverageyour mixedmethodsskills as you take on complex and nuanced topics and work to define and drive near and long-term investments. You will work closely with other user researchers, designers, and program managers to ensure that we are addressing the most critical needs and opportunities.

We'relooking for someonewhois forward-thinking and willing to challengethe status quoandto help define and incubatenew ideas. This position requires strong research, organization and storytellingskills, and the ability to work across teams. The ability toestablisha strong point of view - informed by both market and user level insights - and toleverageyour POVto define product direction isa must.You have systems thinking skills, understanding how complex systems work and how they can be improved, to integrate AI withinthe existing M365 ecosystem to create a seamless,effective,and personalized user experience for both individuals and project teams.

We'reespecially looking for someone who wants to learn, grow, and embody new ways of working. If you embracea growthmindset, havea track recordof delivering results, and you light up collaborating with other researchers, planners, designers, productmanagersand engineersyou'llfeel right at home on this awesome team.

• Create a research strategyand build/deliver impactful research plan(s)thatprovidedeep competitive and customer insights needed toimpactstrategy and UX.
• Derive insights from quantitative and qualitative data, complementing other research that you will conduct on your own or in partnership with other researchers.Key to this accountability will beidentifyinggaps and customer pain points, as well as potential customer delighters.
• Define and measure UX approaches, metrics, and work with core stakeholders on research planning. Innovate and developnew approachesto measure users'experiences.
• Gain insights into user behavior,retentionand churn by studying the product funnel andalignqualitative research plans to uncover the 'why'.
• Identifystakeholders across Microsoft and bring them along as you provide qualitative and quantitative customer feedback to influence product development at different granularity, from product strategy to cross-platform coherence to feature usability.
• Work across organizational boundaries and across disciplines with UX Designers, other User Researchers, Data/AppliedScience, Program Managers and Engineers to ensure thatwe'readdressing the most critical business and technologyobjectivesto meet the right user needs and opportunities.
• Land impact broadly from your customer-focused knowledge by working across multiple organizations(from Outlook to Teams toM365)and their respective engineering,designand marketing teams.
• Partner with Applied and Data Science tointegratecustomer data and insights into AImodelevaluationsetsand quality rubrics.
• Identifystakeholders across Microsoft and bring them along as you provide qualitative and quantitative customer feedback to influence product development at different granularity, from product strategy to cross-platform coherence to feature usability.
• Work across organizational boundaries and across disciplines with UX Designers, other User Researchers, Data/Applied Science, Program Managers and Engineers to ensure thatwe'readdressing the most critical business and technologyobjectivesto meet the right user needs and opportunities.
• Land impact broadly from your customer-focused knowledge by working across multiple organizations(from Outlook to Teams to M365)and their respective engineering,designand marketing teams.
• Partner with Applied and Data Science to integrate customer data and insights into AI model evaluation sets and quality rubrics.

Required Qualifications (RQs)

• Doctorate in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 1+ year(s) User Experience Research experience
  • OR Master's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 3+ years User Experience Research experience
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 4+ years User Experience Research experience
  • OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications (PQs)

• Hands-on research and/or product planning experience, withdemonstratedskill in collecting and analyzing human behavioral data to improve plans and UX in an AI-forward technology industry setting
• Experienceimpactingboth product direction and detailed experience designon productsleveragingAIand large language models (LLMs)
• Proficient in data or funnel analysis or deep quantitative research design and analysis
• Use of AI to augment research workflows (planning, moderating, analysis, reporting)
• Experience with integrating research/customer data in AI model evaluation sets and quality rubrics

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives.

Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

UX Research IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $158,400 - $258,000 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.