Senior User Experience Researcher

Description

Work Arrangement

Hybrid - This means the successful candidate is expected to report to their work location three times per week, at minimum [or other frequency dictated by the business]. This position has the flexibility to be in Warren, MI, Mountain View, CA, or Austin, TX.

The Role

The Autonomous Robotics Center (ARC) is seeking a Senior User Experience (UX) Researcher to lead strategic research initiatives that shape how autonomous robots interact with people in complex, real-world environments. This role is pivotal in driving human-centered innovation across ARC's robotics platforms. You'll partner with cross-functional leaders to ensure that ARC's systems enhance human productivity, integrate seamlessly into dynamic environments, and support scalable, user-informed design decisions.

What You'll Do

• Lead end-to-end UX research programs that inform product strategy and engineering priorities.
• Conduct advanced field studies and ethnographic research to uncover deep insights into human-robot collaboration.
• Develop and socialize journey maps, JTBD frameworks, and behavioral models to guide product development.
• Define and advocate for human-robot interaction principles that promote safety, efficiency, and trust.
• Translate complex research findings into strategic recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to building a culture of evidence-based design.
• Collaborate with engineering and design leadership to embed research into agile development cycles.
• Navigate the intersection of hardware and software to address unique challenges in robotics UX.

• 5+ years of applied UX research experience in industry, with a strong portfolio demonstrating impact on product and system design.
• Expertise in qualitative and mixed-methods research, including ethnography, contextual inquiry, and usability testing.
• Demonstrated success in influencing cross-functional teams and aligning stakeholders by leveraging research insights to drive product direction, prioritize features, and inform strategic decision-making.
• Proven ability to effectively communicate complex research findings to cross-functional stakeholders, translating technical insights into actionable strategies for engineering, product, and leadership teams.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate seamlessly with multidisciplinary engineering teams in fast-paced technical environments, contributing to the development and deployment of innovative robotics and AI solutions.
• Bachelor's degree in UX Design, HCI, Industrial Design, Engineering, or a related field.

• Experience in robotics, autonomous systems, or hardware-integrated UX.
• Familiarity with manufacturing, industrial, or safety-critical environments.
• PhD in a relevant field with a focus on human-robot interaction or applied cognitive science.
• Experience leading cross-functional research initiatives or managing UX research teams.

• The salary range for this role is $94,800 - $176,100 . The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.
• Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.
• Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.