UX Research Manager, AI Mode

Company: Google
Location: San Francisco
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

info_outline X Applicants in San Francisco: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.Note: By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following: San Francisco, CA, USA; New York, NY, USA; Mountain View, CA, USA . Minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience. 8 years of experience in an applied research setting, or similar. 3 years of experience leading design projects and managing people or teams. Experience in developing, launching products, technologies within Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML). Preferred qualifications: Master's degree or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Statistics, Psychology, Anthropology, or related field. 7 years of experience working with executive leadership (e.g., Director level and above). 5 years of experience managing projects, and working in a large, matrixed organization. About the job UX Research Managers are fierce advocates for the people who use our products as well as the members of their teams. You’re an expert at using qualitative research methods such as field studies, interviews, and diary studies to shape product development and influence overall strategy. In this role, you’ll take the time to understand not just the execution side of UX, but also the business aspects of the products we build. You’ll collaborate with leaders of other UX, Engineering, and Product Management teams to create innovative experiences across all of Google’s products, leveraging your passion for brand, craft, and design quality. You will lead a team of researchers at the forefront of shaping the future of information discovery. Your team will be responsible for understanding the evolving needs and behaviors of users as they interact with AI-powered search results. You will guide your team in conducting foundational and iterative research to inform the development of AI Mode, AI Overviews, and other related features. Collaborating closely with product managers, designers, and engineers, you will ensure that the user is at the center of the product development process. Your work will directly influence how millions of users interact with Google Search, making it more intuitive, intelligent, and helpful. In Google Search, we're reimagining what it means to search for information – any way and anywhere. To do that, we need to solve complex engineering challenges and expand our infrastructure, while maintaining a universally accessible and useful experience that people around the world rely on. In joining the Search team, you'll have an opportunity to make an impact on billions of people globally. The US base salary range for this full-time position is $189,000-$274,000 bonus equity benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Learn more about benefits at Google . Responsibilities Lead and mentor a team of UX researchers, fostering their growth and development. Develop and execute a comprehensive user research roadmap for our AI models, aligning with product priorities and business goals. Design and oversee a wide range of research studies, including usability testing, user interviews, surveys, and contextual inquiries, to gather insights into user needs, behaviors, and pain points. Evaluate the quality of AI output in relation to user instructions, and identify common failure modes or areas where the AI misunderstands user intent. Define and refine the research methodologies and processes used by the team to ensure high-quality, impactful research.

Keywords: Google, North Highlands , UX Research Manager, AI Mode, IT / Software / Systems , San Francisco, California