Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Microsoft is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations through innovative AI-powered skilling experiences. As a Principal User Experience Researcher, you will lead research strategy and execution to influence design and engineering decisions for products that have a global impact.

Responsibilities

Identify critical customer problems and define research priorities that guide product strategy.
Apply advanced qualitative and quantitative methods; oversee end-to-end studies to deliver credible, high-impact insights.
Synthesize data into actionable recommendations that activate design and engineering alignment.
Define user experience signals, criteria, and lifecycle measures to ensure success from awareness through retention.
Develop tools, templates, and participant recruitment strategies to enable consistent, high-quality research across teams.

Skills

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 3+ years 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 4+ 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 6+ years User Experience Research experience
OR equivalent experience.
6 + years of experience in user research, human-computer interaction, or related field.
6+ years of experience in leading strategic research initiatives for complex products or platforms.
6+ years of experience defining UX metrics and integrating insights into product development cycles.
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 5+ years 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 8+ 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 10+ years user experience research experience
OR equivalent experience.
4+ years relevant domain experience within technology sector.
4+ years experience in research methods impacting both product direction and detailed experience design.
Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Psychology, or related field.
10+ years of experience defining UX metrics and integrating insights into product development cycles.
Experience with AI-driven products, learning platforms, or enterprise SaaS solutions.
Familiarity with global skilling ecosystems and accessibility standards.
Track record of building scalable research frameworks and mentoring research teams.
Ability to translate industry trends into actionable insights for product innovation.
Proven ability to lead strategic research initiatives for complex products or platforms.
Experience in mixed-method research (qualitative and quantitative) and advanced analysis techniques.
Proficient communication skills to influence cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders.

Benefits

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

Company Overview

Microsoft is a software corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. It was founded in 1975, and is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, with a workforce of 10001+ employees. Its website is https://www.microsoft.com.

Company H1B Sponsorship

Microsoft has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 7425 in 2025, 9343 in 2024, 7677 in 2023, 11403 in 2022, 7210 in 2021, 7852 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.

[Remote] Principal User Experience Researcher - AI Skilling

Job Type