Lead Researcher- Unannounced Title

Scopely•Culver City, CA

20h•$169,600 - $253,000•Onsite

About The Position

Scopely is seeking a Lead Researcher to join their Research & Insights team. This role will focus on designing and implementing user research programs for a new Mobile/PC game in development. The position involves executing high-impact research and acting as a strategic collaborator for the product, driving the research roadmap and influencing key design decisions. The ideal candidate is passionate about games, possesses a strong foundation in mixed-method user experience research, and can effectively partner with cross-functional stakeholders. This role is expected to deliver actionable insights and elevate the user research craft across Scopely.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Game Design, Social Science, or a related field
8+ years of experience conducting end-to-end user experience research in gaming at either a developer/publisher or research agency
Strong expertise in mixed-method user experience research, with demonstrated ability to select and apply appropriate methodologies across various stages of production
Proven track record of driving measurable product or player experience improvements through research insights from a variety of sources
Experience supporting product strategy and roadmap decisions through research in complex, cross-functional environments
Experience working with and managing external research vendors
Strong interpersonal, analytical, and project management skills
Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and align cross-functional teams using evidence-based insights
Experience scaling or improving research practices and tools within a team or organization
Passion for gaming and a strong understanding of core loops and monetization of mobile/PC games
High attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and comfort tackling complex and ambiguous problem spaces

Nice To Haves

MBA, Master’s, or PhD preferred
Familiarity with online survey tools (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyGizmo/Alchemer) and remote testing platforms (e.g., PlaytestCloud, UserTesting) is a plus
Experience advanced AI analysis or analytics tools such as SPSS and SQL is a plus
Candidates with experience in social play or midcore live-service games strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Lead research initiatives to drive a deeper understanding of the player experience across game development and live operations
Serve as a driving strategic partner to product leadership, identifying where research can inform design vision, roadmap priorities, and player experience strategy
Own and drive the end-to-end user experience research function, from defining research strategy through execution, synthesis, and delivery of insights
Collaborate with game development, strategy, and leadership teams to translate insights into KPIs, product decisions, and solutions to player experience challenges
Design, execute, and present high-impact quantitative and qualitative user experience research studies in partnership with consumer insights, research operations, and cross-functional teams (e.g., Game Design, UX Design, Product Management, Production, Marketing, Data Analytics, etc.)
Translate research findings into clear, actionable recommendations that influence design decisions and measurable outcomes
As required, manage external research partners, ensuring cost-effective methods with clear objectives and timely, high-quality results
Help define, evolve, and scale research methodologies, frameworks, and best practices across Scopely’s Research & Insight’s user research division
Mentor and support other user researchers, contributing to the growth and maturity of the team’s capabilities and impact