Principal User Researcher - Consumer

Western Digital is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal User Researcher who will play a pivotal role in shaping the user experience of our products and services. As a key member of our User Experience Research team, you will drive world-class consumer research initiatives, enabling our cross functional teams to make guided decisions that define the future of Western Digital products.

We are seeking a candidate who excels in all facets of survey methodology, adept at crafting and executing research initiatives to deepen our understanding of consumer behaviors and preferences. This role demands extensive experience in conducting end-to-end user research, from study design and recruitment to moderation, analysis, and delivery. The ideal candidate will possess a robust analytical acumen, capable of distilling insights from quantitative user research. This candidate must also demonstrate a creative flair, designing research strategies that resonate with users and presenting findings in a compelling manner to stimulate productive discussions and informed decision-making within our teams.

As a Principal User Researcher, you will be part of our dynamic team, reporting directly to the Consumer Strategy & User Research Manager located in our Milpitas office. While the role is based in Mexico, it offers the flexibility of fully remote work on a standard schedule, five days a week.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead end-to-end user research activities, overseeing study design, participant recruitment, moderation, analysis, and delivery of insights.
• Manage multiple concurrent research projects, ensuring outcomes meet high-quality standards and are delivered within established timelines.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams, including product management, industrial design, product marketing, marketing creative, packaging, business development, and product operations, to identify research needs and develop well-structured research plans.
• Conduct various forms of user research, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative methods such as user interviews, usability testing, brand and competitor testing, and product testing to glean insights that address specific business inquiries.
• Act as our resident expert in survey tools and methodologies, proficient in utilizing various platforms to collect user feedback and adept at determining the most suitable methods or combination of methods for addressing research inquiries.
• Foster strong relationships with key stakeholders across departments (i.e., Economics & Data Science, Consumer Sales, etc.) ensuring effective communication of research findings.
• Utilize analytical tools such as Excel, Python, R, SQL, SPSS, etc., to distill insights from quantitative user research, such as willingness to pay and demand generation analyses.
• Present findings in clear and compelling formats, such as well-structured presentations, fostering collaboration among teams, facilitating meaningful discussions, and motivating actionable decision-making.

Requirements

REQUIRED

• BA/BS degree with 3+ years of relevant experience in qualitative and quantitative user research.

SKIILS

• Proven track record of successfully leading end-to-end research activities in a fast-paced environment.
• In-depth knowledge of various survey tools and methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage concurrent research projects.
• Strong sense of ownership and capability to drive projects to completion with minimal guidance or supervision.
• Proven aptitude for supporting and mentoring teammates in research methods, fostering a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment within the team.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey research findings effectively to stakeholders.
• Excellent strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency in analytical tools such as Excel, Python, R, SQL, SPSS, and statistical modeling.