User Researcher, Virtual/Augmented Reality
Our mission is to protect life.
We’re out to make the world a safer place by solving big problems and taking on the public safety challenges of our time. From our company's inception building the TASER device to a full suite of hardware and software solutions, we are focused on providing police agencies with state-of-the-art devices and services they need to successfully serve and protect us. In the next few years, we're going to eliminate the burden of paperwork in policing, so officers can increase the time they spend building relationships and serving in their communities. We’ll put video at the heart of police records so our justice system can get to the truth faster. And we won't stop innovating until the bullet is rendered obsolete.
It’s a big mission, but it’s one we’ll pursue relentlessly every single day.
Your Impact
You aren’t like everybody else. You aim a little higher. You reach a little further. Your experience is much broader than just a previous career or a few past jobs. You've been listening, learning, and paying attention to recent events which have demonstrated to you why building world-class technology for Public Safety is so important. You do more because it matters to you. And when it comes to looking for that next opportunity, you want to do work that matters to others.
At Axon, we build connected devices such as body cameras powered by an industry-leading digital evidence management platform. Our hardware, software, and training platforms bring security, efficiency, and transparency to law enforcement and are enabling us to truly change the world. The Axon business is growing rapidly and we are looking for a User Researcher to join our Virtual & Augmented Reality team - someone that has a passion for immersive technology, a background in cognitive psychology and a drive for working on “VR for Good.”
As one of the founding members of the Axon’s AR/VR team, you will be responsible for leading the user research in immersive technology.
We’re very interested in how we can push this technology to help officers train, including immersive VR-based empathy development training and de-escalation training to help officers engage with the communities they serve with greater awareness and safety. We seek to accomplish this while abiding to the following guiding principles:
- Build AR and VR Solutions for Social Good: With our mission to Protect Life, we develop AR/VR solutions that benefit both law enforcement and the community, while addressing key issues in society.
- Empower Agencies with Data: Deliver ongoing training data and analysis that provide agencies with key insights that enable them to make decisions that result in building better, more efficient, and positive programs.
- Develop an Active and Diverse Virtual Platform: Leverage the latest in AR/VR technologies to create a robust portfolio of solutions and the highest-quality content, that enable users to be more effective in their roles and manage the challenges of 21st century public safety.
What about the day-to-day?You will lead all research for AR/VR, be a resource for methods and techniques, and a strategic partner to Product Management and Engineering. On any given day you may find yourself:
- Meeting with design and stakeholders to define an upcoming usability study
- Analyze survey results and put together a presentation for team and stakeholders
- Talk to the team about how to best address a usability issues uncovered in a recent usability study
- Create and own our AR/VR research roadmap
- Getting into headset and reviewing the latest AR/VR build, talking to an Engineer about a bug you found
- Attend a Product Design team meeting and discuss open usability questions that need to get answered
- Answer a question from a Product Manager about appropriate sample size or which method to use
- Define and refine a personas based on customer feedback
- Research the latest trends/experiences in AR/VR —trying them out for yourself in headset
- Conduct a usability session with users, learning and iterating how to do onsite and remote testing in AR/VR
- Define and drive both qualitative as well as quantitative user data gathering efforts to effectively inform product planning, design and development in AR/VR
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- At least 3-4 years of industry experience conducting effective user research by applying a broad range of methodologies including in-person and remote usability testing, site visits, concept testing, survey design, and contextual inquiries
- You have a portfolio that includes examples of studies with hardware or immersive technology research
- Exceptional behavioral data-collection and analysis skills, e.g., designing, conducting, and analyzing all kinds of user data
- Willingness, if not passion, to spend time in AR/VR headsets, learning and testing, and gain a basic knowledge of the technology
- Background or interest in neuroscience or cognitive psychology of immersive technology
- End-to-end experience with all aspects of usability research (study design, recruiting, moderation, analysis, reporting)
- Solid experience working closely with UX Design, Product, and Engineering teams on gathering and implementation of research recommendations
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, customer service and interpersonal skills
- Mentor other UX and Product team members around effective qualitative and quantitative user data gathering methods.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience conducting studies with AR/VR platforms (like Hololens, Oculus, HTC Vive or PlayStation VR)
- Degree in cognitive psychology or neuroscience background
- Experience working in an Agile development environment is considered a plus
COMPENSATION AND Benefits
- Competitive salary and 401K with employer match
- Discretionary paid time off
- Robust parental leave policy
- An award-winning office/working environment
- Ride along with real police officers in real life situations, see them use technology, get inspired
- And more...
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.