Senior Researcher- External Development

Scopely is hiring a Senior Researcher to join our Research & Insights team, supporting an exciting Unannounced Title in collaboration with External Development. This role can be based in Culver City (hybrid) or remotely within the US.

At Scopely, we care deeply about what we do and want to inspire play every day – whether in our work environments alongside our talented colleagues or through our deep connections with our communities of players. We are a global team of game lovers who develop, publish, and innovate in the mobile games industry, connecting millions of people around the world daily.

We are in the early stages of development on an ambitious, unannounced AAA mobile game, and we’re assembling a team of passionate game makers to craft unforgettable environments and immersive adventures that players will love.

We are looking for a best-in-class researcher who embodies Scopely’s Care Deeply, Iterate to Greatness, and Play to Win tenets – someone who takes ownership, moves with efficiency, and holds themselves to a high standard of impact. In this role, you will be expected to deliver actionable insights that meaningfully influence product direction, player experience, and business outcomes.

The ideal candidate has a passion for games and a strong foundation in mixed-method research (e.g., surveys, usability playtests, IDIs, focus groups) and can partner effectively with cross-functional stakeholders to meet the needs of the business.

What You Will Do:

• Lead research initiatives to drive a deeper understanding of the player experience across game development and live operations
• Design, execute, and present high-impact quantitative and qualitative research studies in partnership with research operations and cross-functional teams (e.g., Game Design, UX
• Design, Product Management, Production, Marketing, Data Analytics)
• Own usability research end-to-end, including screener and survey design, recruiting, script development, moderation, analysis, presentation of findings, and budget
• Manage external research partners, ensuring cost-effective methods with clear objectives and timely and actionable results
• Partner with the game development and central strategy teams, including leadership, on research results, KPIs, and potential solutions to player-identified problems in the product experience
• Collaborate with the Research & Insights team to evaluate new methods, evolve our toolkit and best practices, and provide ongoing mentorship

What We Are Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Game Design, Social Science, or a related field; MBA, Master’s, or PhD preferred.
• 6+ years of experience conducting research in gaming at either a developer/publisher or research agency
• Passion for mobile games and a strong understanding of core loops and monetization models
• Proven track record for designing and executing a range of high-impact qualitative and quantitative research studies for games in development
• Experience working with and managing external research vendors
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, and project management skills
• Ability to build trust, influence cross-functional partners, and guide decision-making through insights
• High attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and comfort tackling complex questions
• Familiarity with online survey tools (e.g., Decipher, Qualtrics, SurveyGizmo/Alchemer) and remote testing platforms (e.g., PlaytestCloud, UserZoom, UserTesting) is a plus
• Experience with analytics tools such as SPSS and SQL is a plus
• Proficiency in both Mandarin & English is preferred
• Quarterly or more frequent international travel, including China, required
• Monthly travel for in-person research at our LA-based Lab is required

Please ensure that the résumé/CV you attach is written in English.

At Scopely, we create games for everyone - and want to ensure that the people behind our games reflect that! We are committed to creating a diverse, supportive work environment where everyone is treated with respect. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and welcome individuals from all backgrounds to join us & embrace the adventure!