Human-Centered AI Researcher

The Mission

The industrial landscape of the Nordics is undergoing a profound technological metamorphosis. At the heart of this shift is the Combient AI Center, a R&D laboratory dedicated to developing sovereign, self-sufficient intelligent systems for a network of 37 of the largest industrial companies in the region.

We believe that for AI to be truly transformative, it must be human-centric. We aren't just looking to build more accurate, efficient intelligent systems, we are looking to understand how these technologies reshape the very fabric of work, collaboration, and human behavior. We are seeking a socially and technically fluent human-centered AI researcher (social science) to join our team and ensure that as we push the boundaries of Applied Sciences and Product Development, we remain anchored in the human experience.

The Role

In this role, you will work directly with our Anthropology Lead to investigate how industrial giants navigate the AI transition through a cultural anthropology lens. You will be a key partner in the research process, expected to be a self-starter who can move between high-level strategic planning and "in-the-trenches" execution.

Your research will be multi-faceted, ranging from Human-AI collaboration at the individual contributor level to macro-studies regarding the future of work. You will ensure that our R&D yields are not just technically sound, but that they produce products that serve humans, offer brilliant user experiences, and align with the sociological realities of the workforce.

What You'll Do

- Conduct Deep Ethnographic Research: Lead studies on human-AI interactions within industrial settings, identifying behavioral patterns and cultural shifts.
- Master the Qualitative Methods: Design and lead semi-structured interviews and other mixed-methods research to gather rich, nuanced data.
- Analyze Behavior through Technology: Utilize qualitative analytical frameworks to understand how human behavior intersects with emerging tech.
- Bridge the Gap: Act as a translator and facilitate discourse between high-level stakeholders (leadership, ethics, and policy) and highly technical engineering/data science teams.
- Inform Product Strategy: Ensure that the "soul" of our products is maintained by integrating ethical and behavioral insights into the development lifecycle.
- Work Independently: Own your projects from conception to completion, while knowing when to collaborate with the broader team for support.

Who you are

- An Advanced Humanist: You hold a background in Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, or Cognitive Science/HCI (Human-Computer Interaction).
- A Research Veteran: You have a proven track record in user experience research and a mastery of mixed-methods data collection. You weigh the trustworthiness of evidence with the context from where it originates to tell the story of the moment.
- Technologically Advanced: You possess sufficient digital literacy. While you don't need to be a senior developer, you understand how machine learning works, the limitations of LLMs, and the basic architecture of software systems.
- A Strategic Thinker: You aren't just looking for a list of tasks; you are a self-starter who can proactively suggest research tracks and identify "what's next" for the portfolio.
- Adaptable: You are comfortable moving between academic rigor and commercial urgency, communicating with equal ease to a CEO as you do with a Staff Engineer.
- An empathic communicator: You are a storyteller who can pivot from discussing deep anthropological theory to collaborating with engineers and business people on AI’s impact.

Why Combient?

- Work with the Best. You will join a high-caliber team of researchers and engineers who have shaped the tech and research landscapes at institutions including NASA, Zalando, Oxford, Kry, and Karolinska Institutet.
- Impact. You will be working on the "Frontier of Industrial AI"—a space where your work directly influences how thousands of people interact with technology every day.
- Autonomy. We value your expertise. You won't be micro-managed; you will be empowered to lead your research tracks, providing the strategic insight we need to build responsible, human-centered AI.
- Collaborative Growth. While autonomy is key, you will be supported by a team of world-class peers who are equally passionate about the intersection of human behavior and machine intelligence.

Practicalities

- Hybrid work arrangement, based in Stockholm, Sweden
- Occasional travel to associated companies in Nordics
- High autonomy and influence over technical direction