Gaming at Microsoft is on a mission to unite the world with amazing gaming experiences!
Xbox Research & Design (XR&D) is a leader in gaming and entertainment experiences for customers worldwide. We design for gamers and game creators of all types across Console, PC, Web, Mobile, and beyond. Together with the Gaming Ecosystem Organization (GEO) we seek to empower game creators to conceive, build, launch, and manage their games using any and all of Microsoft’s software and services from Xbox to Azure.
We are seeking a User Experience Researcher with a passion for generating consumer insights to drive the development of world-class entertainment games and experiences. You will be joining a unique team at Microsoft known for pioneering and institutionalizing the adaptation of psychological research methods to games and the entertainment industry. You're a starter and a finisher — someone who can translate business strategy into potential experience outcomes, identify experience gaps, and successfully collaborate with other disciplines across the business to bring new ideas to life. Together with our team of designers and researchers, you will help us create innovative experiences fundamental to the success of game studios around the world spanning platforms and genres.
Responsibilities
- Partner closely with design and development team members to deeply understand and inform product goals and strategies
- Develop research plans that involve and engage your team and impact business strategy, product design, and quality
- Design and execute appropriate research activities through leveraging both qualitative and quantitative methods (observation, interviews, ethnography, surveys, lab studies, instrumentation, etc.)
- Bring a wide range of both established and innovative research methods to your work and develop new methods where needed
- Communicate research findings through persuasive, compelling written reports and group presentations
- Contribute your research and perspective throughout the entire product design cycle from planning to product implementation to post-release
- Partner with, and leverage, other researchers across a diverse team
Qualifications
- An advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in behavioral or social sciences, such as psychology, human-computer interaction, human factors, sociology, anthropology or a related field, or equivalent industry experience. Computer science degrees with relevant user research experience will also be considered
- Minimum 3-5 years research experience
- Strong cross-team collaboration skills
- Proven experience in planning and executing on complex partner facing initiatives
- Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and explain high quality mixed-method research
- Fluency in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies (e.g., interviewing, field studies, questionnaire development and survey research, experiments, usability studies, contextual inquiry, instrumentation, biometrics, etc.)
- Demonstrated experience designing and executing research projects and able to quickly and effectively analyze and present data to influence product design and implementation
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, persuasiveness, and the ability to make compelling group presentations
- Ability to distill complex ideas into succinct thought and impactful storytelling
- Ability to develop creative approaches to researching multifaceted user experience problems
Preferred Skills
- Expertise in one or more qualitative research methods (e.g., fieldwork, contextual inquiry, observation, interviewing, etc.) with experience applying those methods to product development
- Experience in constructing, analyzing, and interpreting survey data
- Experience programming games, apps, or tools
- Experience studying new technology and understanding how it might fit into consumer’s lives
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.
Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.
Benefits and Perks
- Industry leading healthcare
- Savings and investments
- Giving programs
- Educational resources
- Maternity and paternity leave
- Opportunities to network and connect
- Discounts on products and services
- Generous time away