Design Researcher II

Microsoft Lists is a smart, flexible tool that helps teams track information and manage workflows within Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and beyond. With features like customizable templates, rules, views, and powerful integrations with Forms, Document Libraries, and AI-driven suggestions, Lists enables individuals and organizations to bring structure and clarity to their work.

As Lists evolves with AI-first experiences, deeper Teams integration, and data-informed evaluation strategies, UX Research is at the core of how we shape meaningful, intuitive, and scalable solutions for knowledge workers worldwide.

We are looking for a UX Researcher who can bring clarity to complexity, foresight to ambiguity, and depth to product thinking. You will lead end-to-end research initiatives across Lists' core scenarios, including:

• Lists in Teams (a critical area for IDC and Slack compete)
• Forms in Lists (a growth area)
• Create and Lists AI experiences (AI-first productivity workflows)
• Evaluation strategy & ethical data collection
• Concept testing for NPS and Doc Library integrations

This is a high-impact role where your insights will directly inform product planning, design execution, and strategic decisions. You will collaborate closely with product managers, designers, engineers, and data scientists across geographies, with a particular focus on bridging research input from Hyderabad to Redmond partners.

This role directly supports some of IDC's highest-priority initiatives, including AI-first productivity, Slack compete, and ethically grounded evaluation frameworks. Without this backfill, we risk delays in research support for critical areas like NPS, Lists + Forms, and AI-driven workflows — and will be unable to sustain exploratory or foundational research needed to guide future innovation.

At Microsoft, we believe in designing with, not just for, our users. If you're passionate about improving how people work and thrive in systems-level thinking, Lists is the place to make an impact.

Let's build the next chapter of collaboration together.

Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

• Drive Research Strategy: Define and lead strategic research roadmaps that align with Lists' business priorities and product vision.
• Deliver Actionable Insights: Conduct mixed-methods research (generative and evaluative), synthesize across data sources, and deliver recommendations that shape both near-term design and long-term strategy.
• Partner Cross-Functionally: Work hand-in-hand with PM, Design, Engineering, and Data Science to influence roadmap decisions and success metrics.
• Support Rapid Iteration: Enable frequent concept testing and validation for AI, Forms, and Doc Library workstreams using Elite panels and internal tools.
• Contribute to Evaluation Frameworks: Collaborate on defining ethical and effective evaluation signals with Data Science, particularly for new AI experiences.
• Mentor and Evangelize: Guide junior researchers, share best practices, and champion the voice of the user across the product and org.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 1+ year(s) User Experience Research experience
• OR Bachelor's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 2+ years User Experience Research experience
• OR equivalent experience.
• Fluency in qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g., interviews, usability studies, surveys, card sorting, analytics).
• Strong storytelling and communication skills; ability to influence decisions with clarity and empathy.
• Experience working across cross-functional product teams in fast-paced environments.
• Deep commitment to accessibility and inclusive design.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 6+ years (Bachelor's), 4+ years (Master's), or 3+ year (Doctorate) in UX research.
• Experience with enterprise or productivity tools (e.g., task management, collaborative platforms, workflow systems).
• Familiarity with AI-driven experiences and evaluation design.
• Experience with multi-platform environments (web, mobile, Teams, cloud).
• Proficiency in research tools like UserTesting, Dovetail, Qualtrics, UserZoom, or similar.
  Comfort navigating ambiguity and bringing structure to 0- 1 or iterative product spaces.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.