Full Time Ethnographic Design Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Apple is looking for a Senior Human Factors Engineer to lead experience definition for intelligent systems and emerging interaction paradigms. In this role, you will shape how people interact with our products by defining experience targets, establishing data strategies that inform design and engineering decisions, and specifying interaction requirements that bridge human needs with technical capabilities and product engineering. You will work at the intersection of human behavior science, systems thinking, and product strategy to ensure our experiences are grounded in evidence and centered on people.
Description
This team identifies human factors risks and proposes crucial research throughout all stages of product and technology development. By working closely with engineers and designers, we gain a deep understanding of design and interaction challenges. Through multi-functional collaboration, we define study objectives and develop tailored research plans to address them. Our work influences multidisciplinary engineering teams by delivering actionable insights that drive key decisions. We determine critical data attributes, conduct both qualitative and quantitative analyses, and translate findings into meaningful insights. To communicate impact, we visualize data and present clear, compelling recommendations to all collaborators.","responsibilities":"Define experience targets, interaction models, and success criteria for new product concepts, translating user needs, cognitive constraints, and behavioral insights into clear specifications that guide engineering implementation.
Partner with product, design, engineering, and data leadership to shape product vision, influence technical tradeoffs, and ensure experiences are grounded in human-centered rationale
Provide technical leadership across multiple project teams - mentoring engineers and researchers, representing human factors in system design reviews, developing scalable methods that elevate the team’s ability to define experiences systematically, and strategize communication methods and means to influence project team and leadership decisions.
Preferred Qualifications
Hands-on experience conducting research with early stage prototypes
Experience building persona frameworks
Experience defining data requirements for ML/AI-driven user experiences
Familiarity with privacy-preserving approaches to behavioral data collection
Track record of shaping product direction at early stages (0-to-1 product definition)
Minimum Qualifications
MS or PhD in Human Factors Engineering, Design Research, Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, or related field
7+ years of industry experience applying design research and/or human factors methods to new product development in technology
Demonstrated ability to define product experiences end-to-end - from early concept through requirement specification
Strong expertise in at least two of the following: Design research methods (contextual inquiry, diary studies, participatory design, ethnographic research, survey design), Qualitative research and synthesis for experience strategy, Interaction design for intelligent/adaptive systems, Multimodal interaction (voice, touch, gesture, gaze, spatial), or Human-AI interaction and automation/autonomy frameworks
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $184,700 and $324,800, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.