(USA) Senior, Design Researcher

Position Summary...

What you'll do...The Emerging Tech team is passionate about solving customer and associate problems with the newest technologies. The team is responsible for creating breakthrough capabilities, delivering frictionless experiences and making these technologies easily available to thousands of Walmart developers and 2.2 million associates. The applications and services built on these capabilities are used by hundreds of millions of customers daily.

Emerging Tech at Walmart, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of retail by driving the adoption of innovative technologies such as conversational AI, AR/VR, and spatial computing. You will be part of the Walmart Emerging Tech team, which is dedicated to transforming the retail experience through breakthrough technologies. The team focuses on providing new experiences and capabilities, enabling teams across the company to create and deliver new product experiences, including virtual experiences for fashion and home, virtual assistants for customers, and turn-by-turn navigation for shoppers in stores

What you'll do...

• User Discovery & Research
  • Conduct qualitative and quantitative user research (interviews, surveys, contextual inquiries) to uncover user behaviors, needs, and pain points.
  • Develop user journeys, storyboards, and mapping techniques to visualize research findings.
  • Analyze existing data sources (e.g., web analytics, user surveys, customer support interactions) to identify gaps between business expectations and user experience.
• Design Research & Data Analysis
  • Propose and refine research hypotheses to guide project planning and execution.
  • Implement rigorous data validation processes to ensure accuracy and reliability.
  • Translate research insights into actionable recommendations that inform design decisions and business strategies.
• Stakeholder Management & Functional Partnership
  • Identify, map, and analyze key stakeholders, understanding their technical needs and business contexts.
  • Engage with both internal and external partners to share insights and align on research objectives.
  • Prepare clear, concise, and fact-based reports to build consensus and drive cross-functional collaboration.
• Usability Testing & Iteration
  • Design and execute user acceptance tests (alpha, beta) to validate design assumptions.
  • Develop comprehensive testing scenarios, documentation, and guidelines to support iterative design improvements.
  • Leverage testing outcomes to optimize user experience and process efficiency.
• Influence & Leadership
  • Communicate complex research insights effectively through verbal, nonverbal, and written mediums.
  • Build and maintain productive relationships with team members and business partners.
  • Foster a culture of respect, integrity, and continuous learning to drive team performance and customer satisfaction.
  • Act as a servant leader by guiding peers, mentoring colleagues, and supporting organizational best practices.
• Customer Focus & Strategic Impact
  • Understand customer and business problems through journey mapping and process optimization.
  • Anticipate product enhancements by identifying risks and opportunities in the user experience.
  • Deliver value-driven insights that align with the company’s mission of customer-centric innovation and operational excellence.

Expected Qualifications

• Education & Experience
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field.
  • Proven track record (typically 3+ years) in user re