Staff UX Research Manager, Google Labs

As a UX Research Manager in Google Labs, you will partner directly with the Head of UX Research to co-lead research strategy and operations across our portfolio—spanning both exploratory 0-to-1 early bets and scaling 1-to-10 public Labs products. Operating as a player-coach leader, you will manage, mentor, and grow a team of researchers while staying close to the craft through selective research. You will pioneer and adapt research methodologies for emerging AI technologies, helping cross-functional teams move quickly from early concepts to sustained user adoption.

As a visionary research leader, you will combine foundational research excellence with nimble, AI-forward pragmatism. You know when to stay loose and provide high-touch, rapid judgment on ambiguous 0-to-1 early bets, and when to provide elevated, strategic guidance on scaling 1-to-10 public products serving millions of users.

Labs is a group focused on incubating early-stage efforts in support of Google’s mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Our team exists to help discover and create new ways to advance our core products through exploration and the application of new technologies. We work to build new solutions that have the potential to transform how users interact with Google. Our goal is to drive innovation by developing new Google products and capabilities that deliver significant impact over longer timeframes.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $236000 - $329000 (USD) + 25% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of UX researchers across Labs products while contributing selective research as a player-coach.
• Define and lead research strategy, methodologies, and priorities across both ambiguous 0-to-1 incubations and scaling 1-to-10 public products.
• Influence senior and executive stakeholders across Product Management, Engineering, and UX to drive research-backed product decisions.
• Oversee research operations, resource allocation, vendor and extended workforce partnerships, and research tooling across the team.
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative user insights to guide product roadmaps and determine whether concepts advance, scale, pivot, or sunset.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 10 years of experience in an applied research setting, or similar.
• 5 years of people management experience leading UX researchers.
• Experience conducting user experience research for AI, machine learning, emerging technologies, 0-to-1 incubations, or scaling products.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 10 years of experience conducting product UX research and partnering with executive leadership.
• Experience operating as a player-coach manager who leads teams while conducting research.
• Experience leading research across both 0-to-1 incubations and scaling 1-to-10 products.
• Experience influencing product strategy and roadmaps for generative AI or emerging technology products.