Research Director Jobs in Los Angeles, CA

INTRODUCTION

To get the best candidate experience, please consider applying for a maximum of 3 roles within 12 months to ensure you are not duplicating efforts.

ABOUT SALESFORCE

Salesforce is the #1 AI CRM, where humans with agents drive customer success together. Here, ambition meets action. Tech meets trust. And innovation isn’t a buzzword — it’s a way of life. The world of work as we know it is changing and we're looking for Trailblazers who are passionate about bettering business and the world through AI, driving innovation, and keeping Salesforce's core values at the heart of it all. Ready to level-up your career at the company leading workforce transformation in the agentic era? You’re in the right place! Agentforce is the future of AI, and you are the future of Salesforce.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We're looking for a Lead Researcher, AI Design to help shape the future of intelligent, human-centered AI products at Salesforce. In this role, you'll drive foundational and applied research at the intersection of AI and design — helping our teams understand how people think, interact with, and trust AI systems. You'll work at the forefront of how we build AI experiences that are equitable, intuitive, and transformative.

- Lead end-to-end research initiatives that inform the design and direction of AI-powered products and features
- Partner closely with product design, engineering, and product management to translate research insights into actionable design decisions
- Define and evolve research methodologies for emerging AI interaction paradigms — including conversational AI, generative AI, and agentic systems
- Conduct generative and evaluative research using a range of methods (interviews, usability studies, surveys, diary studies, concept testing, etc.)
- Synthesize complex findings into clear, compelling narratives for executive and cross-functional audiences
- Mentor and support other researchers, raising the craft across the team
- Champion ethical AI design and contribute to frameworks for responsible AI research

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED

- 7+ years of experience in UX research, human-computer interaction, or a related field
- Deep experience researching AI/ML products or complex technical systems
- A strong portfolio demonstrating the impact of your research on product outcomes
- Expertise across qualitative and quantitative research methods
- Exceptional communication and storytelling skills — you can make nuanced findings accessible to any audience
- Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to shape research strategy in fast-moving spaces
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams in a large, matrixed organization

BONUS POINTS

- Experience with responsible AI, AI ethics, or trust and safety research
- Familiarity with enterprise software or B2B SaaS environments
- Advanced degree in HCI, cognitive science, psychology, or a related field

COMPENSATION

- The typical base salary range for this position is $148,500 - $260,100 annually. The range represents base salary only, and does not include company bonus, incentive for sales roles, equity or benefits, as applicable.

Unleash Your Potential
When you join Salesforce, you’ll be limitless in all areas of your life. Our benefits and resources support you to find balance and be your best, and our AI agents accelerate your impact so you can do your best. Together, we’ll bring the power of Agentforce to organizations of all sizes and deliver amazing experiences that customers love. Apply today to not only shape the future — but to redefine what’s possible — for yourself, for AI, and the world.

ACCOMMODATIONS

If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request via this Accommodations Request Form. Please note that Salesforce uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help our recruiters assess and evaluate candidates’ resumes and qualifications throughout the recruiting process. Humans will always make any candidate selection and hiring decisions. Please see our Candidate Privacy Statement for more information about how we use your personal data and your rights, including with regard to use of AI tools and opt out options.

EEO STATEMENT

Salesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. What does that mean exactly? It means that at Salesforce, we believe in equality for all. And we believe we can lead the path to equality in part by creating a workplace that’s inclusive, and free from discrimination. Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal. Any employee or potential employee will be assessed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications – without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other classifications protected by law. This policy applies to current and prospective employees, no matter where they are in their Salesforce employment journey. It also applies to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, assessment of job performance, discipline, termination, and everything in between. Recruiting, hiring, and promotion decisions at Salesforce are fair and based on merit. The same goes for compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, reduction in workforce, recall, training, and education. In the United States, compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, job level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, and benefits. Salesforce offers a variety of benefits to help you live well including: time off programs, medical, dental, vision, mental health support, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and an employee stock purchasing program. More details about company benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.salesforcebenefits.com. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, Salesforce will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.