Hiring: Director, User Experience Research – Experience Design (XD) Company: Expedia Group Location: Chicago, IL Job Posted Time: 2026-09-15 11:57:32 Target Skills & Keywords : Agile, Embedded Systems, Scrum About the job Experience: •15+ years of relevant professional experience without an advanced degree, or 5–10 years with a suitable advanced degree; or equivalent related professional experience. Required Skills: •You'll thrive in this role if you find as much satisfaction in developing another researcher's career as you do in uncovering a pivotal customer insight, if you're comfortable working shoulder-to-shoulder with engineers, and if you're energized by the pace at which AI is changing what and how we research. •In This Role, You Will •Define and lead the research strategy across our Partner Tools portfolio. •Operate as a player/coach for a small, senior research team — setting strategy and craft standards while remaining directly involved in research execution. •Partner closely with engineering, design, product, and data science teams, to translate partner insights into strategic, business-impactful decisions. •Champion rigorous, AI-informed research methodologies, and bring direct, hands-on examples of how you've integrated AI tools into your own research workflow, from planning through synthesis. •Build scalable research frameworks and reusable insight systems that create durable value across a complex, multidisciplinary organization. •Integrate qualitative and quantitative research to combine behavioral data with human-centered depth and deliver complete partner insights. Qualifications: •Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Anthropology, Cognitive Science, or a related field; or equivalent related professional experience. •Demonstrated expertise in qualitative research methodologies and integrating AI into research planning, execution, or delivery. •Proven experience leading and developing high-performing research teams across multiple locations and career levels. •Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate research insights into strategic, business-impactful decisions. •Master's degree or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, Statistics, Psychology, or a related field — or equivalent professional experience. •A track record of working in close, day-to-day partnership with engineering — e.g., embedded in agile/scrum teams, contributing to technical scoping, or evaluating AI/ML model behavior directly alongside engineers. •Specific, demonstrable examples of creating research artifacts and workflows with AI platforms such as Cursor, Claude, GPT, or comparable tools. •Demonstrated ability to safely integrate and operate AI/ML-enabled solutions that improve research outcomes while maintaining methodological rigor. •Starting pay for this role will vary based on multiple factors, including location, available budget, and an individual’s knowledge, skills, and experience. Pay ranges may be modified in the future. Compensation: •$242,000 - $338,500 / year •Flexible work environment (work from home / hybrid options) Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!