Sr Product Researcher

Welcome to the intersection of energy and home services. At NRG, we’re driven by our passion to create a smarter, cleaner and more connected future.

Vivint Smart Home, an NRG owned company, is a leading smart home company in the United States, dedicated to redefining the home experience with intelligent products and services. We find purpose in proactively protecting and keeping our customers connected to home, no matter where they are. Join the Smart Home team to create smarter, safer and more sustainable homes.

Job Summary

In this role, you will be a valuable member of the Customer Validation team, reporting directly to the Director of Customer Validation. The team spans qualitative research, alpha/beta testing, and quantitative validation, working in close partnership with Product, Design, Program, Engineering, Data Science, and leadership to help inform:

- Product roadmaps, through discovery work and concept testing

- Product development, through usability, value, and other testing and research

- Product iteration, through satisfaction surveys, interviews, and other methods

- Innovation and whitespace identification, before product teams form around a concept

This is a senior role with significant autonomy and influence. You will serve as the senior product research SME on the team, trusted to operate independently, mentor junior researchers, and bring the expertise needed to elevate research from project-based execution to proactive, insight-driven partnership.

Primary Responsibilities:

- Lead multi-study research programs addressing interconnected, often ambiguous questions that span user segments, product areas, and stages of the customer journey.

- Proactively identify research opportunities and customer/UX gaps, surfacing evidence that shapes what should be built, rather than waiting for product teams to dictate the research agenda.

- Actively mentor and develop junior researchers, coaching on methodology, judgment calls, and best practices.

- Develop and scale AI-augmented research workflows for synthesis and analysis; evaluate emerging AI tools and recommend adoption; determine when AI analysis is sufficient versus when human interpretation is required.

- Design and execute cross-study synthesis that builds cumulative understanding of problem spaces, creating insights and frameworks the broader team can reuse rather than one-off, project-by-project deliverables.

- Distill complex, multi-study data into insights that surface systemic patterns and root causes; contribute to strategy documents (PRFAQs, PRDs, roadmap reviews) and present to senior stakeholders.

- Partner as an equal with Product, Design, Engineering, and Data Science, shaping strategy and decisions early rather than validating decisions already made.

- Champion inclusive, accessible research practices across study designs, and help improve and evolve the team's research methods over time.

Required Skills:

- A passion for user research and clearly demonstrated empathy for end users.

- Deep expertise in qualitative methods (moderated/unmoderated usability testing, structured and unstructured interviews, concept and discovery research), with the judgment to design the right approach when the path isn't already defined.

- Experience designing quantitative components into mixed-methods research (benchmarking, pre/post measurement) and triangulating qualitative findings with quantitative and behavioral data.

- Experience translating research insights into clear recommendations that influence product direction, prioritization, and customer experience investments.

- A track record of independently framing research questions and reshaping poorly scoped research asks, rather than simply executing what's requested.

- Experience mentoring or developing other researchers.

- Comfort using AI tools in research workflows, with the judgment to critically evaluate AI-generated output for accuracy and bias.

- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting findings and strategic recommendations to senior stakeholders (Directors, VPs, and above).

- Demonstrated ability to facilitate stakeholder discussions that move beyond reporting findings to driving alignment on decisions, actions, and next steps.

Required Education/Experience:

- Master's and/or PhD or equivalent.

- 5+ years of experience leading end-to-end consumer research programs in industry, applying research findings into actionable recommendations for product, business, and customer experience decisions.

NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Protected Veteran Status/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

EEO is the Law Poster (The poster can be found at http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf)

Official description on file with Talent.

We support the use of AI tools to help you prepare for your interview (e.g., practicing responses, researching the role, or refining your resume). However, during interviews and assessments, we expect responses to reflect your own thinking, experience, and communication. Use of AI to generate or read answers in real time, complete assessments, or misrepresent your qualifications is not permitted and may impact your candidacy.

The base salary range for this position is: $130,000 - $ 185,000 * *The base salary range above represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonus, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition the position may be eligible to participate in the benefits program which include, but are not limited to, medical, vision, dental, 401K, and flexible spending accounts.