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Principal UX Researcher

United States, California, Mountain View Apply nowFind out how well you match with this jobJob number200045216Date postedJul 28, 2026Work site4 days / week in-officeTravelLess than 25%ProfessionDesign & CreativeDisciplineUX ResearchRole typeIndividual ContributorEmployment typeFull-TimeOverview

Microsoft AI Monetization is a customer-first organization dedicated to building the next generation of AI-powered products that serve our customers' business goals. Our Design, Research & Content team is a creative community on a mission to create and deliver holistic experiences for Advertisers, Content Creators, Sellers and Consumers. By leveraging our deep understanding of the user and our business acumen, we drive the future of advertising and monetization in the AI era. Our diverse team works collaboratively to develop products and ideas that empower us to move swiftly, creating seamless and delightful experiences that impact billions of customers worldwide.

We’re a friendly, diverse and a fast-moving team, supporting one another to do the best work of our lives, always looking to break new ground with an unshakeable dedication to the user. We are proud of what we build, how we build it, and that our products define the AI era while earning the trust of our users. We prioritize quality, meaningful innovation and polish, and always root our decisions in research and evidence. We ship regularly, so your work will have real and immediate impact.  

We are seeking a Principal UX Researcher to help us set the path for our next generation of AI-powered experiences focused on monetization. For this role we’re looking for someone who can move between exploratory, generative research to rapid evaluations of prototyped ideas. Someone who works across organizational roles to uncover the unspoken questions and beliefs and answers them with precision, detail, and durability. Someone who always puts people first and centers their needs, problems, goals, and aspirations for the team. Someone who is energized by direct, tangible product impact. A solid mixed methods researcher comfortable in interviews and with deep data analysis. If this sounds like you, please apply!

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.  

Starting January 26, 2026, Microsoft AI (MAI) employees who live within a 50- mile commute of a designated Microsoft office in the U.S. or 25-mile commute of a non-U.S., country-specific location are expected to work from the office at least four days per week. This expectation is subject to local law and may vary by jurisdiction.

Responsibilities

• Understand the behaviors, motivations, needs, and aspirations of our customers to create a differentiated advantage in our ability to build relevant and impactful experiences for people across the world.   
• Drive product strategy through rigorous programs of multi-stage research executed to the highest standards.  
• Balance rigor with scrappiness and the ability to push with a fast-moving team.  
• Drive cross-team collaborations among all disciplines from early product stages to final implementations. 
• Guide teams in creative new directions and help set ambitious goals that stand out from the crowd.  
• Identify new opportunities and generate innovative ideas to improve our processes, culture, and influence our approach to research (e.g. mindsets, methodologies).  
• Lead research on highly visible products or set of business initiatives with notable risk and complexity.   
• Regularly influence at the highest levels of organizations.   
• Elevate the research craft of the team. 
• Embody our culture and values.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 3+ years User Experience Research experience
  • OR Master's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 4+ years User Experience Research experience
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 6+ years User Experience Research experience
  • OR equivalent experience.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check. This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 5+ years user experience research experience
  • OR Master's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 8+ years user experience research experience
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 10+ years user experience research experience 
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 8+ years experience working in UX research or a related field. 
• High level research skills across methods, qualitative and quantitative (i.e. a Mixed Methods researcher).
• Excellent communication and presentation / storytelling skills, with the ability to energize and activate teams.  
• Experience working in B2B and B2C product spaces.
• Experience working on AI products.
• Demonstrated championing of fundamentals of user experience, including accessibility and inclusive design.  
• Experience with commonly used research tools.   

#MicrosoftAI 

UX Research IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

Insights from previous hiresTop skillsArchitectureAnalyticsDesign SystemsDesignConsoleComputer EngineeringCommunicationClarityBusinessBasisPreviously worked as1. Product Designer2. Designer3. Senior Product Designer4. UX Engineer5. Senior