Research Associate, Usability & Learning

Level•Austin, TX

20d

About The Position

Level is a learning technology company dedicated to helping students build real academic and life skills with confidence and joy. We combine proven curriculum principles with world class interactive design to make meaningful practice something students want to come back to, not something they struggle through. We support what teachers, schools, and parents are already doing by increasing student engagement with high quality, standards aligned practice that reinforces classroom learning. That’s why we’re building: For students: Rewarding and motivating learning experiences that meet students where they are to build real academic proficiency. For educators: Tools that fit naturally into instruction and help students stay engaged while reducing teacher workload. For parents: Activities that help your kid catch up or get ahead, build confidence, and minimize homework battles, whether learning at school or at home. We are committed to helping every person maximize their potential and live a life of meaning. It’s a difficult problem that requires brilliant people and tremendous effort over time. We are looking for a curious, detail-oriented Research Associate to support our usability and learning research lab. You'll work closely with our Usability Expert and Lab Manager to run studies with children and families, collect and organize data, and help us understand how kids learn and play. This is a hands-on role — you'll spend real time with real kids, operating lab equipment, running sessions, and turning raw observations into useful findings.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Human Development, Education, Cognitive Science, HCI, or a related field
Experience working directly with children (research, tutoring, teaching, childcare, camp, etc.)
Comfort with technology and a willingness to learn specialized lab tools and software
Strong attention to detail and ability to follow protocols consistently
Reliable, organized, and able to manage logistics across multiple sessions

Nice To Haves

Experience with qualitative research methods (interviewing, observation, think-aloud protocols)
Familiarity with usability or UX research concepts
Experience with video annotation, screen recording, or behavioral coding tools
Background in educational technology, game design, or child psychology
Graduate coursework or research experience in a relevant field

Responsibilities

Study Facilitation & Data Collection
Facilitate usability, playtesting, and learning sessions with child and parent participants under the direction of the Lab Manager
Follow established research protocols and session guides, flagging issues or deviations
Take detailed observational notes and manage in-session data capture (video, screen recording, behavioral logs, biometric data, etc.)
Lab Operations Support
Assist in setting up, calibrating, and breaking down lab equipment before and after sessions
Help maintain lab readiness: equipment checks, consumables, scheduling logistics
Support participant coordination including screening, scheduling, and consent documentation
Data Processing & Analysis
Transcribe, code, and organization qualitative data from sessions
Assist with quantitative data entry, cleaning, and basic analysis
Help synthesize findings into summaries, highlight reels, and presentation-ready materials
Working with Children
Build rapport with child participants to help them feel comfortable and engaged during sessions
Uphold ethical research standards and child safety protocols at all times
Adapt facilitation style to different age groups and learning contexts