Senior UX Researcher, AI Experiences

Job ID: 200054644Posted: 2026-09-11Location: United States, California, San FranciscoSalary: USD $119,800 - $234,700 per yearEmployment type: Full-TimeWork site: 4 days / week in-officeRole type: Individual ContributorTravel: Less than 25%Profession: Design & CreativeDiscipline: UX ResearchCompany: MicrosoftOverviewIf you're curious, creative, and excited by how AI is reshaping the practice of design, we'd love to work with you! The AI Experiences Design & Research team is a community of designers, researchers, and makers reimagining how people interact with technology. We design across Microsoft's AI-powered experiences, including Copilot, Edge, Bing, MSN, and emerging products, creating end-to-end journeys that span devices, platforms, and contexts. We're looking for people who embrace experimentation, use new tools to expand what's possible, and aren't afraid to move beyond traditional design boundaries. Together, we're building experiences that make AI more useful, intuitive, and delightful for billions of people around the world. Join us as we reimagine not only the products people use, but the future of design itself! We are seeking an AI-native, Senior UX Researcher to help us set the path for our next generation of AI-powered products for Search and Experiences. For this role we’re looking for someone who can move between exploratory, generative research to rapid evaluations of prototyped ideas. Someone who works across organizational roles to uncover the unspoken questions and beliefs and answers them with precision, detail, and durability. Someone who always puts people first and centers their needs, problems, goals, and aspirations for the team. Someone who is energized by direct, tangible product impact. A mixed-method UX researcher with strong quantitative expertise. The ideal candidate has experience applying statistical analysis methods such as ANOVA, Regression, and Cluster Analysis, as well as designing and executing large-scale surveys. They are also skilled in conducting interviews, evaluating experiences, and synthesizing insights into product strategy. Someone who has experimented extensively with AI in their research workflow and has reshaped their approach around it. AI Experiences employees who live within a 50- mile commute of a designated Microsoft Hub in the U.S. are expected to work from the office at least four days per week. This expectation is subject to local law and may vary by jurisdiction.Responsibilities Responsibilities Understand the behaviors, motivations, needs, and aspirations of our customers to create a differentiated advantage in our ability to build relevant and impactful experiences for people across the world Drive product strategy through rigorous programs of multi-stage research executed to the highest standards Balance rigor with scrappiness and the ability to push with a fast-moving team Drive cross-team collaborations among all disciplines from early product stages to final implementations Guide teams in creative new directions and help set ambitious goals that stand out from the crowd Identify new opportunities and generate innovative ideas to improve our processes, culture, and influence our approach to research (e.g. mindsets, methodologies) Lead research on highly visible products or set of business initiatives with notable risk and complexity Regularly influence at the highest levels of organizations Elevate the research craft of the team Embody our culture and valuesQualificationsRequired Qualifications: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: 5+ years of experience working in UX research or a related field High level research skills across methods, quantitative (regression analysis, cluster analysis, segmentation) and qualitative (i.e. a Mixed Methods researcher) Excellent communication and presentation / storytelling skills, with the ability to energize and activate teams Demonstrated championing of fundamentals of user experience, including accessibility and inclusive design Experience with commonly used research tools AI-native research approach, incorporating AI into their research workflows to produce tangible improvements 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 $160,200 - $261,000 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: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.