Human-Centered AI Researcher

Apple • Cupertino, CA

94d • $181,100 - $318,400

About The Position

The Apple Design Group is seeking a Human Factors Design Researcher to support development of hardware, software, algorithms, packaging and retail experiences. This is an active role where collaboration with an immense number of partners across the company is necessary. We are looking for a Human-Centered AI Researcher to join our interdisciplinary team of design researchers supporting hardware, software, and intelligence products. This role requires someone with deep HCI or social science foundations, applied technical understanding of AI systems to consumer products, and experience evaluating and prototyping emerging interaction patterns—especially those involving LLMs, multimodal interfaces, and dynamic UIs. We're looking for a mixed methods researcher, particularly with quantitative methodological skills, who can pose critical questions about key human-AI concepts, initiate generative research or design experiments to test explorations, and translate insights to inspire new design directions. You will partner closely with designers, engineers, and producers/program managers to bring human insights into the development of devices and services used by millions of people worldwide. This role is particularly suited for someone excited by AI-native UX, speculative software prototyping, and shaping the future of human-AI interaction.

Requirements

• Proficiency in both quantitative and qualitative research methods and subsequent analysis
• Ability to graphically visualize concepts, conclusions and insights
• Experience in a variety of technical human data capture methodologies
• Experience building digital products that leverage advanced technologies (such as AI / ML) across varied engagement surfaces including web, mobile, and conversational experiences
• BS/BA in Human Factors, Ergonomics, Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive/ Experimental Psychology, Anthropology or similarly relevant field (Master's/Doctorate preferred)
• In lieu of professional degrees 10+ years experience in relevant fields

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in behavioral science, social science, HCI, or cognitive science (PhD preferred)
• Expert in mixed methods research, with ability to triangulate qual and quant data
• Deep quantitative expertise: large-scale survey design, experimental design, psychometrics, statistics
• Hands-on experience working with or evaluating AI systems, models, and interfaces
• Programming skills and emerging experience with AI-powered prototyping for research-through-design
• Skilled at time series analysis, working with temporal data to identify patterns, trends, and insights over time and sequences of events
• Strong storytelling and visualization skills for communicating findings
• Ability to work across disciplines and time horizons, from early-stage visioning to productization
• Familiarity with spatial computing, wearable devices, or health data is a plus

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct generative and evaluative research across hardware and software experiences, particularly leveraging AI technologies
• Assess and shape AI system behaviors through human-centered evaluation frameworks
• Collaborate with design, engineering, and our own research team to prototype and iterate on AI-driven interfaces and emerging interaction paradigms
• Design and analyze surveys and mixed-methods studies; apply expertise in experimental design, psychometrics, and statistics
• Make sense of AI behavior through research and translate these insights into actionable recommendations for partner teams
• Create new measures and metrics that illuminate how people engage with AI, such as trust calibration and cognitive offloading
• Contribute to responsible AI design: safety, fairness, explainability, inclusion, and transparency

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage
• Retirement benefits
• A range of discounted products and free services
• Reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition
• Opportunity to participate in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs
• Eligibility for discretionary restricted stock unit awards
• Ability to purchase Apple stock at a discount through Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation assistance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
• Education Level: Master's degree