Job Description

In Mixed Reality, people—not devices—are at the center of everything we do. Our tech moves beyond screens and pixels, creating a new reality aimed at bringing us closer together. To get there, we’re incorporating diverse groundbreaking technologies, from computer vision to machine learning, human-computer interaction, and more. We’re a growing team of talented researchers, designers, and engineers putting technology on a human path across all Windows devices, including Microsoft HoloLens, Windows Mixed Reality headsets, and motion controllers. We believe in success through a compelling end-to-end customer experience for Mixed Reality. If you do too, we need you!

We are looking for a Principal Research Operations Lead who’s capable of driving, influencing, and executing User Research events across teams, products, and programs. In this role, you’ll lead a team that will continually evolve and improve our implementation of Research Operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and align mixed methods user research plans with various stakeholders including (but not limited to) the public sector, military, commercial, and consumer segments.
• Integrate Human Centered Design frameworks and principles to develop continuous improvement practices from research planning to insight delivery.
• Develop and maintain Research Tools and Infrastructure; work with Research leadership to define, create, facilitate, manage, and oversee areas such as research assets, Insights repository, and vendor management.
• Grow and maintain research facilities; provide management and oversight of our existing external research facilities + develop a long term vision and plan to align facility access with Research roadmap.
• Align on all Safety and Compliance regulations and standards; ingest existing compliance, privacy, and regulatory guidelines and mandates into our research execution plans.
  

A successful candidate must be able to collaborate well across Microsoft and diverse stakeholders, possess strong technical research skills, have an aptitude and interest in creating data-driven strategy, be excited about creating an inclusive environment, and understand how good design can create great products.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or equivalent practical experience in Research Operations, Human Centered Design, product management, project management, or a closely related field.
• Experience implementing Human Centered Design principles, concepts, and methods.
• 4+ years of research and design work experience; familiarity and/or experience working with AR/VR technologies or similar emergent technologies preferred.
• Experience working through complete, complex product cycles with an understanding and application of human-centered design and prototyping approaches.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a high tolerance for ambiguity and change.
• Proven track record planning and executing research activities across several stakeholders and customers.
• This position requires access to information controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the successful candidate must be a "U.S. person": a natural person (a) who is a lawful permanent resident as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20); or (b) who is a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3); or (c) is subject to an approved license by the applicable government agency.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in or working closely with the technology industry
• Experience conducting various field research methods
• Familiarity with product or program management
  

If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified and you think you can rock the role, we’d love to learn more about you and please consider applying!

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.