UX Research Scientist, Metaverse Avatars Generative AI Experiences

Building a compelling Metaverse experience starts with enabling our billions of users to represent and express themselves the way they want to in the digital world. Avatars are the key to meaningful connections in the Metaverse and our research team is at the forefront of helping understand avatar user needs and building compelling and iconic avatars for the future of digital representation. In addition to avatars, our team also enables AI-driven agents, NPCs and companion characters that enable our users to navigate the virtual worlds of Horizon (Meta’s primary metaverse app) and express their identity and personality to connect meaningfully with others.

The Generative AI Experiences team within the Avatars Pillar is responsible for creating compelling AI-generated characters and character-enabled experiences that facilitate users to represent and express themselves. The goal for our team is to build characters that people love. The person in this role will help us figure out (through research) what will make our users fall in love with our AI-driven characters.
- You will be leading research for our Generative AI-driven agents, characters and companions, specifically helping understand user needs for these characters, researching technical affordances required for building them and supporting creators build these characters themselves in the Metaverse.
- You will help define the future of digital representation for billions of Meta’s users and the future of virtual characters for the Metaverse, both at Meta and consequently for the world.
- You will get to work with the technology of tomorrow, including AI-driven agents, Codec avatars and AR smart glasses.
- You will get to work with avatars and characters across a broad spectrum of use cases created by both first-party and third party partners and also across both mobile surfaces (eg. smartphone applications) and immersive devices (eg. Quest VR headsets & AR smart glasses).UX Research Scientist, Metaverse Avatars Generative AI Experiences Responsibilities

• In Reality Labs, the focus areas of UX Research Scientists can vary from building virtual characters and avatars, health & safety to visual perception to biomechanics & ergonomics. Regardless of the focus area, the primary responsibility is to develop frameworks that clearly define the trade space between user variables and technology variables, and to develop methodologies for investigating novel challenges.
• Lead the vision and strategy for how our AI agents and avatars in Horizon look, feel, and behave through user research
• Develop and execute mixed methods research studies by utilizing appropriate methods, which may include experimental design
• Critical literature reviews
• Develop and track subjective and objective metrics for evaluating quality of immersive and social experiences
• Analyze rich and multidimensional data, develop descriptive and analytical models, and shape actionable insights from research findings.
• Effectively communicate outcomes and insights from studies
• support decision-making and specifications development for RL hardware and software products
• and drive measurable impact on the user experience.
• Create close partnerships with a variety of leadership, research and product stakeholders to ensure a broad understanding of the product needs and priorities while driving UX goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience. Degree must be completed prior to joining Meta
• PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, Human-Centered Computing or a closely related scientific or engineering field.
• Demonstrated scientific background in two specific areas of virtual characters/agents and Generative AI, with experience applying such knowledge in analyzing and improving immersive and social experiences
• 5+ years of experience in experimental design, behavioral analysis, literature review, and proficiency with inferential statistics.
• Proven track record of rigorous scientific research, including development of metrics, frameworks and novel scientific approaches.
• Demonstrated track record of clear and concise communication, demonstrated experience translating technical concepts to drive understanding and buy-in from audiences, and proven experience of successfully building effective partnerships.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of industry experience in conducting research for novel products headed to market.
• Experience in research for emerging consumer technologies and immersive tech (AR/VR/MR)
• Experience in research across the full product life-cycle.
• Experience evaluating product quality, safety or usability across realistic use contexts.
• The right candidate will be an effective communicator, interested in understanding people, and curious about the evolving complex relationship between humans’ sensorimotor and cognitive systems and the novel hardware and software technologies in development at Reality Labs

For those who live in or expect to work from California if hired for this position, please click here for additional information. About Meta Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.
$117,000/year to $173,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.

Equal Employment Opportunity Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. You may view our Equal Employment Opportunity notice here.
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