User Experience Research Associate Jobs in Texas

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.
We operate at the cutting edge of embodied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.

JOB SUMMARY 

Apptronik is seeking a Senior UX Designer to help define the operational workflows and end-to-end user experiences surrounding our humanoid robots.

This role is ideal for a systems-oriented designer who enjoys unpacking complex real-world workflows, collaborating across disciplines, and translating ambiguous operational needs into thoughtful, human-centered experiences. You will focus on defining and improving workflows that span physical interaction, operational processes, onboarding, deployment, servicing, training, and other human touchpoints surrounding the robot experience.

Reporting to the Director of UX, you will partner closely with Product, Industrial Design, Research, and Engineering teams to help shape how users understand, interact with, deploy, and work alongside robotic systems in real-world environments.

This role requires strong systems thinking, service and workflow design skills, and the ability to create clarity within complex and evolving operational environments.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES 

• Define operational workflows and end-to-end user experiences surrounding humanoid robot deployment, onboarding, servicing, maintenance, training, and day-to-day operation
• Design and map user journeys, workflow definitions, interaction flows, and operational concepts across physical and digital touchpoints
• Collaborate closely with Product, Industrial Design, UX Research, and Engineering teams to define human-centered operational experiences
• Help shape interaction moments that influence trust, communication clarity, user mental models, and robot legibility within real-world environments
• Translate ambiguous requirements, technical constraints, and operational needs into actionable workflow definitions and experience concepts
• Create design artifacts including workflow maps, storyboards, behavioral definitions, prototypes, and future-state concepts
• Contribute to evaluative and generative research efforts by helping identify workflow assumptions, operational risks, and opportunities for improvement
• Collaborate with UX Research to better understand user behaviors, operational needs, and experience quality across deployment and usage scenarios
• Work effectively in a fast-moving environment where workflows, product requirements, and operational assumptions may evolve rapidly as robotic systems mature
• Up to 10% travel may be expected to participate in research at customer sites

• 6+ years of experience in UX design, service design, workflow design, interaction design, or related experience-focused disciplines
• Strong portfolio demonstrating systems thinking, workflow architecture, service design, and operational experience design across complex environments
• Experience designing end-to-end workflows involving physical products, operational systems, or multi-touchpoint user experiences
• Ability to think critically about user mental models, communication clarity, trust, onboarding, and operational usability
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across multidisciplinary technical teams
• Experience working through ambiguity and helping define structure within evolving problem spaces
• Ability to create clear workflow definitions, journey maps, interaction concepts, and operational experience frameworks
• Experience collaborating closely with product managers, engineers, researchers, and designers

• Experience working in robotics, automation, industrial systems, logistics, mobility, healthcare, or other operationally complex environments
• Experience with service design, operational workflow design, or cross-touchpoint experience design
• Familiarity with human-robot interaction concepts, behavioral systems, or embodied interaction design
• Experience contributing to prototyping or concept development for physical and digital experiences
• Exposure to usability testing, evaluative research, or operational validation workflows

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Ability to perform physical tasks throughout the workday, including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, climbing, and reaching 
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds as required 
• Ability to safely use ladders, lifts, power tools, and other facility equipment 
• Ability to work in mechanical rooms, warehouses, offices, and other facility spaces 
• Vision and hearing sufficient to safely perform job duties and communicate effectively 
• Ability to respond to facility emergencies, including outside of normal business hours, as required