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UX Researcher, Search - Job Opportunity at Google

Zürich, Switzerland
Full-time
Mid-level
Posted: June 27, 2025
On-site
CHF 120,000 - CHF 160,000 annually. This estimate reflects the premium market conditions in Zürich, Switzerland's status as a major tech hub, and Google's competitive compensation philosophy. The range accounts for the mid-level positioning suggested by the 1-year minimum experience requirement while recognizing the strategic importance of the Search team role.

Key Responsibilities

Drive stakeholder influence across multiple functions to champion research-based, user-centric solutions that directly impact product strategy and user experience outcomes
Lead cross-functional partnership initiatives with researchers, designers, product managers, and engineers to establish shared objectives and deliver measurable success metrics
Direct project prioritization and resource allocation decisions in alignment with broader organizational goals while identifying expansion opportunities across product lines
Spearhead product and service innovation through research-driven insights that translate user needs into actionable product recommendations
Guide teams in defining and measuring comprehensive impact across product, service, and ecosystem levels to demonstrate research ROI
Lead strategic direction and decision-making processes through comprehensive research analysis, consolidation, and synthesis of user, product, and business intelligence

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Statistics, Psychology, Anthropology, related field, or equivalent practical experience

Experience

1 year of experience in an applied research setting, or similar

Required Skills

Experience with research design utilizing various qualitative methods and approaches (e.g., usability studies, contextual inquiry, simple surveys, literature reviews, etc.) Experience in product research either in an end-to-end, usability, or generative setting Experience leveraging a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods and analysis techniques in different disciplinary environments In-depth understanding of the strengths and shortcomings of different research methods, including when and how to apply them during the product development process Proficiency in communicating user research findings with cross-functional partners to drive impact and influence product roadmaps
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The UX research field is experiencing unprecedented growth as companies increasingly recognize that user-centered design directly correlates with business success, particularly in the technology sector where user experience can make or break product adoption. Organizations are investing heavily in research capabilities to understand evolving user behaviors in an increasingly digital-first world. Search technology is undergoing a fundamental transformation with the integration of AI and machine learning capabilities, creating new opportunities for UX researchers to study how users interact with conversational interfaces, voice search, and personalized results. This evolution requires researchers who can adapt traditional methodologies to emerging interaction paradigms. The emphasis on cross-functional collaboration in product development has elevated the strategic importance of UX researchers, who now serve as critical bridges between user insights and business strategy. Companies are seeking researchers who can not only conduct studies but also influence product roadmaps and drive organizational change through data-driven storytelling.

Role Significance

Typically operates within a cross-functional team of 8-12 members including UX designers, product managers, engineers, and content strategists, while collaborating with the broader Google UXR community of hundreds of researchers globally. The role involves both independent research leadership and collaborative team-based projects.
This role represents a strategic mid-level position with significant growth potential, combining hands-on research execution with stakeholder influence and project leadership responsibilities. The emphasis on driving priorities and leading strategic discussions indicates this is positioned above entry-level but below principal researcher levels, making it ideal for professionals ready to expand their impact beyond individual contributor work.

Key Projects

Comprehensive user journey mapping and optimization projects for Google Search features that impact billions of daily interactions Strategic research initiatives exploring emerging search behaviors and technologies to inform long-term product roadmap decisions Cross-platform user experience studies examining how search integrates across Google's ecosystem of products and services Foundational research projects investigating user needs in international markets to support global product localization efforts

Success Factors

Ability to translate complex user research findings into compelling narratives that resonate with technical and business stakeholders, demonstrating clear connections between user insights and business outcomes Strong project management and prioritization skills to navigate competing demands while maintaining research quality and meeting aggressive product development timelines Deep expertise in mixed-methods research approaches combined with the flexibility to adapt methodologies for emerging technologies and interaction paradigms Exceptional communication and influence skills to build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups and drive adoption of user-centered design principles Strategic thinking capability to identify research opportunities that align with broader business objectives while advancing user experience goals

Market Demand

Exceptionally high demand driven by digital transformation acceleration and increased focus on user experience as a competitive differentiator. The combination of Google's market position and Switzerland's thriving tech ecosystem creates particularly strong demand for qualified UX researchers.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Mixed-methods research expertise is absolutely essential as modern UX research requires the ability to combine qualitative insights with quantitative validation to build compelling cases for product decisions. The complexity of search behaviors demands researchers who can triangulate findings across multiple methodologies to provide comprehensive user understanding. Stakeholder influence and communication skills are paramount given the role's emphasis on driving cross-functional alignment and influencing product roadmaps. Success requires the ability to translate research findings into strategic recommendations that resonate with diverse audiences from engineers to executives. Strategic thinking and business acumen are crucial for identifying research opportunities that align with broader organizational goals while addressing user needs. The ability to connect user insights to business outcomes distinguishes high-impact researchers from those who simply execute studies.

Beneficial Skills

Technical proficiency with advanced analytics tools and programming languages like R or Python increasingly valuable as UX research becomes more data-driven and integrated with product analytics International research experience and cultural competency highly valuable given Google's global user base and the Zürich office's role in European market research Experience with emerging technologies such as voice interfaces, AR/VR, and AI-powered products provides competitive advantage as search evolves beyond traditional text-based queries

Unique Aspects

Opportunity to impact billions of users globally through research that directly influences the world's most widely used search engine and information discovery platform
Access to unprecedented scale of user data and advanced research tools that enable insights impossible to achieve in smaller organizations
Collaboration with world-class researchers, engineers, and product teams working on cutting-edge technologies including AI, machine learning, and natural language processing
Participation in Google's renowned UXR community with extensive mentorship programs, internal research tools, and knowledge sharing initiatives
Strategic positioning within the Search team during a period of fundamental transformation in how users discover and interact with information

Career Growth

Career advancement typically occurs within 2-4 years given the accelerated learning opportunities at Google and the high-growth nature of the UX research field. The combination of Google's resources, mentorship programs, and the strategic importance of search creates an environment conducive to rapid professional development.

Potential Next Roles

Senior UX Researcher positions with expanded scope across multiple product areas and increased strategic influence over product direction UX Research Manager roles leading teams of researchers and establishing research practices and methodologies Principal UX Researcher positions focusing on high-impact strategic research initiatives and thought leadership Product Management transitions leveraging deep user insight expertise to drive product strategy and development

Company Overview

Google

Google stands as the undisputed global leader in search technology and information organization, with Google Search processing over 8 billion queries daily and maintaining dominant market share across virtually all global markets. The company's commitment to user experience research is fundamental to its mission of organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful.

Google maintains an unparalleled position in the search market with over 90% global market share, while its parent company Alphabet ranks among the world's most valuable corporations. The company's investment in UX research reflects its understanding that user experience quality directly impacts its advertising-based revenue model and long-term competitive positioning.
Google's Zürich office serves as the company's largest engineering center outside the United States, housing over 4,000 employees and serving as the European headquarters for search and YouTube operations. This strategic location provides access to diverse European markets and multilingual user bases, making it a critical hub for international product development and user research.
Google's culture emphasizes data-driven decision making, innovation, and user-centricity, creating an environment where UX researchers have significant influence over product development. The company's famous '20% time' policy, comprehensive learning and development programs, and collaborative work environment foster professional growth and cross-functional collaboration.
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