Audio UX Researcher III - Onsite

Aptask Global Workforce (AGW) is seeking an Audio UX Researcher III for an Onsite position with a Leading Technology Firm located in Redmond, WA. This is a 12+ month contract opportunity.

This role is embedded in a fast-moving prototyping effort for an ambitious new project advancing our client's Superhuman Communication & Connection initiative. The ideal candidate will conduct rapid, lightweight qualitative evaluation, synthesizing feedback into concise, actionable insights on a timescale that keeps pace with development. This position requires someone who can reason fluently about spatial audio and auditory perception, as the core questions revolve around how people perceive and locate sound.

Responsibilities:

• Embed in the prototyping team and conduct rapid, lightweight qualitative research to guide the development of our client's AI glasses user experiences focused on speech communication and effortless conversation
• Attend demos, working sessions, and design reviews; observe and capture structured notes on user reactions, usability signals, and team feedback
• Design and conduct short evaluative sessions with small numbers of participants, heuristic walkthroughs, and conversational interviews on a quick-turn cadence (days, not months)
• Synthesize scattered qualitative feedback into concise, actionable insights; delivered same-week while design questions are still live
• Evaluate and iterate on audio and communication features for AI wearables by understanding how users perceive, interact with, and benefit from device-based experiences
• Evaluate how users perceive spatially rendered audio, including localization, externalization, and the placement of received or virtual sound sources, and translate those perceptual reactions into design guidance
• Translate research insights into interpretable findings and actionable recommendations for cross-functional partners and stakeholders
• Work closely with engineers, designers, and research scientists to influence development direction in real time
• Supplement qualitative work with quantitative methods (surveys, descriptive statistics) as needed to strengthen or validate findings

Requirements:

• MA/MS in Speech and Hearing Sciences, Psychoacoustics, Audiology, Cognitive Psychology, Linguistics, Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Neuroscience, or a related UX field, with preference for candidates whose training or research focused on auditory perception, speech intelligibility or spatial hearing
• 2+ years experience conducting applied qualitative research on consumer products, with an emphasis on methods such as interviews, contextual inquiry, observational studies, and rapid thematic analysis
• Proficiency conducting qualitative interviews; including conversational and semi-structured formats with demonstrated ability to elicit rich, actionable user insights
• Experience with rapid-cycle research in fast-moving development environments where deliverables are measured in days, not months
• Strong interpretive judgment: ability to form a qualitative read from a small number of well-chosen observations and frame findings that move a team forward
• Demonstrated working knowledge of spatial audio (for example sound localization, binaural or rendered audio, and how sound is perceived in space)
• 1+ years of working in cross-functional teams

Desired skills:

• PhD in Cognitive Psychology, Linguistics, Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Speech and Hearing Sciences, Communication Ecology, Experimental Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related UX field
• Experience embedding in rapid prototyping or agile research teams where the product changes weekly
• 2+ years of experience conducting attitudinal or behavioral research with wearable technology (AI glasses, headphones, smart watches, etc.)
• 2+ years experience with quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, descriptive statistics, experimental design) as a supplementary skill
• Experience with heuristic evaluation and expert review methods
• Background in psychoacoustics, hearing science, or audiology, or equivalent applied experience evaluating audio perception
• An audiology background is a welcome and accepted profile for this role
• Familiarity with speech communication, human-AI interaction, or audio user experiences
• Proficiency in descriptive and inferential statistics, and data visualization (e.g., R, Python)
• Strong oral and written communication skills with experience tailoring messages to various stakeholders and delivering findings in accessible, narrative formats

Pay range: up to $82.70 per hour

Only candidates available and ready to work directly as Aptask Global Workforce (AGW) employees will be considered for this position.

If you have the described qualifications and are interested in this exciting opportunity, apply today!

Aptask Global Workforce (AGW)
ApTask Global Workforce (AGW) is a certified Minority and Veteran workforce solutions company. AGW delivers operational, clinical, lab and professional talent with a strong focus on healthcare and life sciences. The company supports clients with reliable staffing, program expertise and a commitment to quality, speed and consistent delivery.

Benefits of working with ApTask Global Workforce include:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Sick Pay (for applicable states/municipalities)

Our team stays close to the process and is here to guide you every step of the way. To learn more, please visit our website

ApTask Global Workforce is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.