[Hiring] Lead Researcher @Scopely

Role Description

Scopely is looking for a Lead Researcher to join our Research & Insights team to design and implement user research programs for a new Mobile/PC game in development in the US on a remote basis.

In addition to executing high-impact research, this role serves as a strategic collaboration for the product, driving the research roadmap for the product and influencing key design decisions.

• Lead research initiatives to drive a deeper understanding of the player experience across game development and live operations.
• Serve as a driving strategic partner to product leadership, identifying where research can inform design vision, roadmap priorities, and player experience strategy.
• Own and drive the end-to-end user experience research function, from defining research strategy through execution, synthesis, and delivery of insights.
• Collaborate with game development, strategy, and leadership teams to translate insights into KPIs, product decisions, and solutions to player experience challenges.
• Design, execute, and present high-impact quantitative and qualitative user experience research studies in partnership with consumer insights, research operations, and cross-functional teams (e.g., Game Design, UX Design, Product Management, Production, Marketing, Data Analytics, etc.).
• Translate research findings into clear, actionable recommendations that influence design decisions and measurable outcomes.
• Manage external research partners, ensuring cost-effective methods with clear objectives and timely, high-quality results.
• Help define, evolve, and scale research methodologies, frameworks, and best practices across Scopely’s Research & Insights user research division.
• Mentor and support other user researchers, contributing to the growth and maturity of the team’s capabilities and impact.

Qualifications

• Passion for games and a strong foundation in mixed-method user experience research (e.g., surveys, usability playtests, IDIs, focus groups).
• Ability to partner effectively with cross-functional stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Game Design, Social Science, or a related field; MBA, Master’s, or PhD preferred.
• 8+ years of experience conducting end-to-end user experience research in gaming at either a developer/publisher or research agency.
• Strong expertise in mixed-method user experience research, with demonstrated ability to select and apply appropriate methodologies across various stages of production.
• Proven track record of driving measurable product or player experience improvements through research insights from a variety of sources.
• Experience supporting product strategy and roadmap decisions through research in complex, cross-functional environments.
• Experience working with and managing external research vendors.
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and align cross-functional teams using evidence-based insights.
• Experience scaling or improving research practices and tools within a team or organization.
• High attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and comfort tackling complex and ambiguous problem spaces.
• Quarterly travel for in-person research at our LA-based Lab required.

Requirements

• Familiarity with online survey tools (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyGizmo/Alchemer) and remote testing platforms (e.g., PlaytestCloud, UserTesting).
• Experience with advanced AI analysis or analytics tools such as SPSS and SQL.
• Candidates with experience in social play or midcore live-service games strongly preferred.

Benefits

• Equity and bonuses eligibility.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare benefits, retirement benefits, pet insurance, paid holidays, paid Scopely free days, and unlimited paid time off.

Company Description

Scopely is a leading video game and global interactive entertainment company, home to many of the world’s most beloved and enduring experiences, including two of the most successful mobile games of all-time “MONOPOLY GO!” and “Pokémon GO.”

Founded in 2011, Scopely is powered by its exceptional team — including thousands of world-class gamemakers around the globe, a distinctive tenet-driven culture, and its proprietary technology platform, Playgami.

Recognized multiple times as one of the "100 Most Influential Companies in the World" by TIME magazine and one of Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies," Scopely believes that video games can be a force for good — creating meaningful connections, vibrant communities, and making life better through play.