UX Research Manager (AI Mode)

Job Title: UX Research Manager – AI Mode

Client: Google
Location: Mountain View, CA
Duration: 12-Month Contract
Employment Type: W2 Only

Job Overview:

We are seeking an experienced UX Research Manager to lead user research initiatives focused on AI-powered products and experiences.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in UX research, human-computer interaction, AI/ML product development, and people management. This role will lead a team of researchers responsible for understanding user behavior, evaluating AI-generated experiences, identifying usability issues, and influencing product strategy through data-driven insights.

The candidate should be comfortable partnering with product, engineering, design, data science, and executive leadership teams in a highly collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Research Leadership & Team Management:

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of UX researchers.
• Provide coaching, performance management, and career development support.
• Establish research best practices and operational excellence.
• Foster a culture of curiosity, innovation, and user-centered thinking.

Research Strategy & Execution:

• Define and execute a comprehensive UX research roadmap.
• Align research priorities with product strategy and business objectives.
• Design and oversee qualitative and quantitative research initiatives.
• Drive research programs that inform AI product development and user experience decisions.

Research Methods:

• Usability Testing
• User Interviews
• Surveys
• Contextual Inquiry
• User Journey Analysis
• Behavioral Research
• Concept Testing
• Product Validation
• Mixed Methods Research

AI & Product Evaluation:

• Evaluate AI-generated outputs against user expectations and instructions.
• Analyze user interactions with AI systems and conversational experiences.
• Identify AI failure modes, usability gaps, and intent understanding issues.
• Provide actionable recommendations to improve AI experiences and product quality.
• Partner with Product and Engineering teams to optimize AI model performance from a user experience perspective.

Research Operations:

• Define and improve research methodologies, frameworks, and processes.
• Ensure consistency, rigor, and quality across research programs.
• Develop scalable research practices and standards.
• Communicate insights effectively to stakeholders at all levels.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor''s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of experience in UX research, applied research, human factors, behavioral research, or related disciplines.
• 3+ years of people management experience.
• Experience leading research initiatives for AI/ML products and technologies.
• Experience developing and launching technology products.
• Strong expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master''s Degree or PhD in:
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychology
  • Anthropology
  • Statistics
  • Related Research Discipline
• 7+ years of experience working with executive leadership teams.
• 5+ years of project leadership experience in large matrix organizations.
• Experience influencing product strategy through research insights.
• Experience evaluating AI-generated content, conversational systems, or generative AI experiences.