Strategic UX Researcher II

We are seeking aStrategic UXResearcherIIto join our multi-disciplinary team of over80 researchers, engineers, designers, writers, andplanners working on a breadth ofAIexperiences. You will work closely with designers, product managers, and engineers toideate, define, and deliverinnovative AI powered solutions that empower people and teams to work more effectively and efficiently.

We'rea forward-looking team passionate about building innovative technology and shipping delightful experiences-especially where AI changes what products can do. We invest in rapid prototyping,model tuning and evaluation, data experiments,andAI-related explorationsto help explore the future of intelligent Microsoft products. Our team brings diverse backgrounds inmultiple disciplines, fromengineering,design, management consulting or researchto behavioral sciences ormedicine; we come in all shapes and sizes. We love pushing boundaries and helping evolve Microsoft's products. Our current focus is on Copilot in the M365 Enterprise world.

Ifyou'relooking for a change and wanting to make an impact - we invite you to join us in our mission and vision to build the future of UX for Microsoft.

This role is intentionally conceptual, integrative, andpre-alignment. Its value lies in strategic research domainexpertise, mapping uncertainty, and providing guidance to stakeholders on how to move forward.

To succeed in this role, you will need to havea mixed methodsresearch background, effective communication and storytelling skills, and the ability to drive product vision and strategy based on user and market insights. You will need to be innovative, challenging the statusquo,and inspiringnew ideas.You have a working knowledge of generative AI solutions and how they can improve both individual and group work. You thrive at systems thinking, understanding how complex systemsworkand how they can adapt as technology progresses.You are comfortable being ahead of the curve, andnew technologiesinspire you to seepossible futuresand outcomes well ahead of when they take hold.You work productively with conceptual ambiguity and incomplete information, and canoperatecomfortably in advance of internal alignment, framing questions before they are widely recognized.Deep familiarity with product design, prototyping, and coding would be complementary to your success in this role.

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. This role is based inRedmond, WAand we are open to other locations across the US and remote work.

• Work across organizational boundaries and across disciplines withUXDesigners, Planners, UX Researchers, Data Science, ProductManagers, Marketers,Writersand Engineers to ensure that we're addressing the most critical business and technology objectives to meet the right user needs and opportunities, landing impactwith our productsfrom yourstrategic research domain expertise.
• Identifystakeholders across Microsoft and bring them along as youprovide research-driven insightsto influence product development atdifferent levelsof granularity, from product strategy to cross-platform coherence to feature usability.Your work will deliver the perspectives these stakeholders need to make product development decisions across M365.
• Tackle problems that require an understanding of complex technical constraints across multiple applications (M365 applications, operating system, web browser), platforms (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android) and devices (Desktop, Web, Mobile) while working to guide near and longer-terminvestments. You should have the organizational agility and acumen to know when to push against product team resistance and when to fold constraints into your recommendations.
• Understand complex systems by looking at the relationships and interactions between their parts, rather than just the individual parts themselves. Demonstrate the ability to generate insights about how these systems impactthe userexperience of using the product across multiple dimensions. Anticipate shifts in technical, business, and human contexts and their potential impact.This role's value lies in mapping uncertainty and providing guidance to stakeholders on how to move forward.
• Create research strategies and plans thatleverageexisting data and complementadditionalresearch that you need to execute. Derive insights from qualitative and quantitative data. Create clarity of purpose through scoping, alignment with stakeholders, and prioritization. Key to this accountability will beidentifyingopportunities for growthand opportunity gaps with insight on how to address them through adaptation of a complex system.
• Define UX approaches, metrics, and work with others on research planning. Innovate and developnew approachesto measure userexperience.

• 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 1+ year(s) 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 2+ years User Experience Research experience
  • OR equivalent experience.