Naughty Dog is looking to solve the problem of delivering world-class player experiences by establishing a new User Experience Research (UXR) department and hiring a Senior User Researcher to guide research practices and partner with developers across the studio and at PlayStation Studios.
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience in user research, UX research, or related fields within the games industry or interactive media.
- Proven expertise in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods (e.g., usability studies, interviews, surveys, analytics interpretation).
- Strong ability to translate complex data into clear, concise, and actionable insights.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience presenting findings to multi-disciplinary audiences.
- Exceptional collaboration and influencing skills; able to work effectively with creative, technical, and production partners.
- Familiarity with narrative, single player game research and player experience evaluation.
- Familiarity with data visualization, statistical analysis, or UX telemetry tools.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with developers from across the studio to understand research needs and create actionable study plans that align with development goals.
- Design and execute research activities that support the creation and refinement of our games from usability testing to player experience evaluation.
- Moderate playtests, interviews, and surveys, observe user sessions, analyze findings, and synthesize actionable insights for development teams.
- Present findings clearly and persuasively to developers at all levels, fostering a deep understanding of player behavior, motivation, and experience.
- Partner with the Production and Design departments to embed user research meaningfully within development pipelines.
- Help evolve research methods, tools, and processes to support future Naughty Dog titles and the continued growth of our new UXR department.
- Mentor junior researchers, supporting their professional growth and contributing to a collaborative, learning-focused environment.
Other
- Advanced degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Psychology, Interaction Design, or a related field.
- Passion for games and a solid understanding of the development process from pre-production through launch.
- High attention to detail, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
- Experience mentoring other researchers and/or building new research capabilities within a studio.
- A deep curiosity about player psychology, motivation, and behavior.
