Research Program Manager (AI)

TL;DR

Research Program Manager (AI): Managing research operations and scaling infrastructure for the AI Design & Research team with an accent on process optimization, vendor relations, and AI-driven automation. Focus on improving team velocity, managing cross-functional initiatives, and delivering high-impact research operations support.

Location: Must be based in Redmond, United States

Salary: $119,800 – $258,000 per year

Company

A global leader in technology, software, and AI solutions.

What you will do

• Partner with research leadership to identify opportunities to leverage AI automation for research efficiency.
• Manage vendor relationships, procurement, and contracting processes to streamline research operations.
• Define, measure, and manage strategic initiatives to reduce friction and improve researcher impact.
• Oversee research operations infrastructure, including tooling, documentation, and process maintenance.
• Coordinate with finance and legal teams to manage budgets, forecasting, and compliance.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure alignment across Design, Research, and Product teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years of experience in engineering, product, or technical program management.
• 2+ years of experience managing cross-functional or cross-team projects.
• Must be located in Redmond, United States.
• Strong communication skills for conveying complex ideas to cross-disciplinary audiences.
• Experience with budget management, forecasting, and vendor coordination.
• Ability to operate independently in ambiguous environments and drive results.

Nice to have

• 5+ years of relevant domain experience in the technology sector.
• Extensive knowledge of UX research methods and tools like Qualtrics, Dscout, or UserTesting.
• Understanding of generative AI trends and AI-first research tools.
• Experience scaling research operations through enablement and data-driven decision-making.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive health and financial benefits package.
• Growth-oriented environment supporting professional development.
• Collaborative, diverse team working on world-scale AI experiences.
• Focus on work-life balance and employee wellbeing.