Hybrid Principal UX Researcher

at The Walt Disney Company

• Job title: Principal UX Researcher
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Lead
• Salary: $167,700 - $224,900 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Santa Monica, United States

About the role

• Principal UX Researcher leading end-to-end research programs for emerging experiences at Disney+. Partnering with design and product leadership to drive product strategy and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end research programs across discovery, validation, and measurement for emerging experiences including XR, spatial, and multi-device ecosystems
• Partner with design and product leadership to define learning agendas and research roadmaps aligned to business strategy
• Use generative methods to uncover unmet needs, behaviors, and motivations, turning them into actionable frameworks and opportunity spaces
• Conduct evaluative research to assess usability, comfort, and engagement in immersive and spatial environments
• Translate research findings into clear, compelling narratives that influence executive decisions and cross-functional roadmaps
• Collaborate with engineers and designers to identify feasibility constraints and inform iterative product experimentation
• Partner with data science to triangulate qualitative insights with behavioral analytics
• Mentor designers and junior researchers in research planning, synthesis, and storytelling
• Champion inclusivity and accessibility in emerging modalities, ensuring new technologies feel human and inviting for everyone

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in UX Research, Human Factors, or related field, with a strong portfolio of studies that shaped product strategy and design
• Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent work experience
• Expertise across a range of qualitative and quantitative methods, and the ability to choose the right one for the question
• Proven experience leading research in emerging technology domains (XR/VR/AR, spatial computing, multi-screen environments)
• A track record of influencing product strategy and direction through evidence-based insight
• Strong storytelling and synthesis skills with the ability to make complex findings clear, credible, and actionable for any audience
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and designing studies for uncharted product spaces
• Deep empathy for users and an instinct for translating emotion and behavior into product opportunity
• Experience mentoring and elevating the practice of UX Research within cross-functional teams

Benefits

• A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package
• full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered