Senior User Researcher

Full job description

Requisition ID:

R022747

Job Description:

Job Title: Senior User Researcher – Activision Publishing

Reporting To: Manager, User Research

Department: User Research

Location: Sherman Oaks, California

Your Platform

Founded in 1979, Activision has continuously disrupted the world of entertainment as a leader in the videogame industry. With a history of delivering iconic innovators - like Pitfall®, Tony Hawk®, Guitar Hero®, Crash Bandicoot™, Skylanders™ and Call of Duty® - our obsession is delighting our players around the globe! Focused and committed to innovation, we consistently deliver the most beloved, engaging and successful entertainment.

And while we have world-class franchises, infrastructure and resources, our success comes from a passionate, dedicated and diverse team of people producing greatness together. So, if you’re interested in our biggest priority, it’s our people.

We’re currently driving the next era for our company and community by creating amazing experiences for fans and continuing to make Activision an inclusive place where everyone can thrive.

Join us, make history. To learn more, check us out at www.activision.com, www.activisiongamesblog.com or @Activision on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Your Mission

As a senior user researcher leading Call of Duty Premium Multiplayer Research, you will join a hard-working and diverse team of user researchers to lead and perform research and evaluation efforts on the largest gaming franchises in the world!

This is an in-person role onsite at the Activision User Research Center (AURC), located in Sherman Oaks, California. In this role, you’ll plan and perform user research activities, delivering insights to partners while maintaining research value. As you grow into your responsibilities on the team, you will be called upon to mentor and train junior researchers, innovate and document new approaches and methods, and develop and maintain relationships with cross-functional teams and partners.

This role is expected to lead user research engagements with the teams working on Call of Duty’s genre-defining multiplayer gameplay. You’ll work with partners at studios including Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Sledgehammer Games to support the best development talent in the industry as we build and innovate together inside the heart of the Call of Duty franchise.

By the end of your first year, you’ll have developed effective relationships with your key partners, mastered the logistical and procedural aspects of research at Activision, and begun to implement a programmatic approach to research in collaboration with other team members and managers.

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Conducts and oversees user research for at least one game title under the direction of the manager or director, including all stages from planning to execution.

• Oversees research studies on-site in the Activision User Research Center in Sherman Oaks, CA.

• Carries out research using a variety of methods, including, but not limited to: playtesting, usability testing, balance testing, focus groups, interviews, surveys, heuristic evaluations, card sorts, exploratory research, and field studies.

• Engages and integrates multiple sources of truth to help develop robust and actionable insights, including qualitative, quantitative, and telemetric data to help inform and drive insights.

• Develops and maintains strategic research plan for assigned project(s).

• Communicates summarized research results directly to development teams for discussion and future implementation.

• Contributes to the overall methodological knowledge and professional practice of the team through formal and informal training and mentoring.

• Can take permanent responsibility for managing and developing personnel within the user research organization.

• Occasionally travels to studio or other sites to meet team members or support research.

Player Profile

Experience

• Deep knowledge and experience designing and completing user research studies.

• 6+ years of experience conducting or overseeing user experience research. Experience testing multiplayer shooter games is a plus.

• Experience with and passion for video games is a must, and an ideal candidate will be well versed in at least one of Activision’s titles.

Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree required - (branches of psychology, human computer interaction, human factors, communications, anthropology, or related field). Higher level degrees are preferred.

• Deep understanding and experience with the process of conducting scientific studies with participants in a laboratory.

Key Attributes

• Entrepreneurial approach: ready to seek out opportunities to expand the value and scope of user research impact through relationship building and technical or methodological innovation.

• Must have a passion for video games, especially FPS or PvP multiplayer games.

• Strong collaborative communication skills with partners and sponsors.

• Excellent interpersonal communication (both written and verbal).

Extra Points:

Experience

• Talent comes from many diverse backgrounds, so experience with user research, UX, or game testing.

• Experience with first person shooters on console or PC.

Knowledge & Skills

• Experience with remote user research testing.

• Familiarity with quantitative research methods.

Key Attributes

• Pro-actively educates, trains, and mentors junior researchers

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do. At Activision Blizzard, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

Our World

We’re highly collaborative, relaxed, and deadly serious about creating incredible entertainment for passionate players around the world. We approach mobile development as a craft, and our ability to build immersive and innovate worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment.

We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got you covered.

Activision is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.