Naughty Dog ยท 2 months ago
Senior User Researcher
United States, Santa Monica, CA
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level
$135K/yr - $168K/yr
5+ years expNaughty Dog is a renowned game development studio known for its critically acclaimed titles. They are seeking a Senior User Researcher to establish a new User Experience Research department, guiding research practices and collaborating with developers to enhance player experiences.
GamingVideo GamesWeb Development
Responsibilities
Collaborate with developers from across the studio to understand research needs and create actionable study plans that align with development goals
Design and execute research activities that support the creation and refinement of our games from usability testing to player experience evaluation
Moderate playtests, interviews, and surveys, observe user sessions, analyze findings, and synthesize actionable insights for development teams
Present findings clearly and persuasively to developers at all levels, fostering a deep understanding of player behavior, motivation, and experience
Partner with the Production and Design departments to embed user research meaningfully within development pipelines
Help evolve research methods, tools, and processes to support future Naughty Dog titles and the continued growth of our new UXR department
Mentor junior researchers, supporting their professional growth and contributing to a collaborative, learning-focused environment
Advocate for the voice of the player throughout the studio, ensuring that empathy, clarity, and data-informed creativity guide our decision-making
Qualification
Required
5+ years of experience in user research, UX research, or related fields within the games industry or interactive media
Proven expertise in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods (e.g., usability studies, interviews, surveys, analytics interpretation)
Strong ability to translate complex data into clear, concise, and actionable insights
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience presenting findings to multi-disciplinary audiences
Exceptional collaboration and influencing skills; able to work effectively with creative, technical, and production partners
Solid leadership skills, able to help mentor more junior colleagues and advocate for the UR department
A deep curiosity about player psychology, motivation, and behavior
High attention to detail, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
Passion for games and a solid understanding of the development process from pre-production through launch
Preferred
Advanced degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Psychology, Interaction Design, or a related field
Familiarity with narrative, single player game research and player experience evaluation
Experience mentoring other researchers and/or building new research capabilities within a studio
Familiarity with data visualization, statistical analysis, or UX telemetry tools
Prior experience with AAA console or PC game development
Benefits
Annual bonus
Other incentive plans
Company
Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog, a video game developer that produces games on PlayStation systems, including the Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter franchises.
201-500 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Naughty Dog has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (3)
2024 (4)
2023 (4)
2022 (2)
2021 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
unknown2001-01-22Acquired
Leadership Team
Rafael Grassetti
Art Director
Recent News
2026-01-06
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2025-12-16
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