Staff UX Researcher, Payments Growth (Mixed Methods)

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

NOTE: This role is hybrid and will require the candidate to be based in San Francisco Bay area. The successful candidate will be expected to work from the San Francisco office at least 2-3 days per week.

The Community You Will Join: 

Research has been part of Airbnb from the beginning, ever since Paul Graham told the Airbnb founders, "go to your users." As designers, the founders embraced this advice and got on a plane to meet with Airbnb hosts that very weekend. Since those early days, the value of research has been baked into Airbnb’s product culture.

With over 5 million hosts and 2 billion global arrivals, payments are crucial to the experience. Every time a guest books or a host gets paid across 190 countries, they rely on a seamless system. When it works, it drives loyalty; when it fails, it costs bookings—making research in this space critical to our business and our mission of belonging.

The Difference You Will Make:

As a Staff UX Researcher on Payments, you will be the voice of this community. In this mixed-methods role, you will combine behavioral insights with quantitative data to navigate ambiguity and global complexity. By uncovering user-centered insights and leading cross-functional workshops, you will drive actionable product innovation and build confidence into every transaction—from a first-time guest in São Paulo to a Superhost in Seoul.

A Typical Day: 

• Own end-to-end guest payments research, effectively prioritize research across multiple workstreams,  plan and execute both foundational and evaluative research that shapes strategy and sharpens payments product experiences.
• Balance speed and rigor: deliver quick reads when the team needs to move, and deeper studies when a decision warrants it, without sacrificing quality.
• Mixed methods storytelling: Triangulate qualitative and quantitative data to understand the payments experience, distilling complex insights into clear, actionable narratives. Communicate clearly and persuasively with stakeholders at every level, including senior executives. 
• Partner closely with cross-functional teams including Product, Design, Business Operations, and Data Science to shape strategy from research insights.
• Facilitate brainstorming and workshops to drive research-backed product decisions, with flexibility to travel to the San Francisco office for key in-person collaborations.

Your Expertise:

• 10+ years of research experience, with deep expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Demonstrated mastery of mixed-methods research- the ability to design, run, and integrate both quantitative and qualitative studies to answer strategic questions.
• Hands-on ability to run statistical analysis and design/analyze surveys, as well as lead foundational qualitative studies.
• Experience with payments, fintech, or other high-trust financial, high-complexity domains.
• A track record of influencing product and executive stakeholders with clear, compelling storytelling.
• Strong multi-tasking skills and project management skills to own multiple projects at different stages simultaneously and research efficiency.
• Effective at leading workshops and brainstorms with stakeholders.
• This role requires regular travel to the San Francisco Airbnb office or attendance at offsites, as agreed to with your manager. 

Your Location:

This role is hybrid and will require the candidate to be based in San Francisco Bay area. The successful candidate will be expected to work from the San Francisco office at least 2-3 days per week.

Our Commitment To Inclusion & Belonging:

Airbnb is committed to working with the broadest talent pool possible. We believe diverse ideas foster innovation and engagement, and allow us to attract creatively-led people, and to develop the best products, services and solutions. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

We strive to also provide a disability inclusive application and interview process. If you are a candidate with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in order to submit an application, please contact us at: [email protected]. Please include your full name, the role you’re applying for and the accommodation necessary to assist you with the recruiting process. 

We ask that you only reach out to us if you are a candidate whose disability prevents you from being able to complete our online application.

How We'll Take Care of You:

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The actual base pay is dependent upon many factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs and market demands. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. This role may also be eligible for bonus, equity, benefits, and Employee Travel Credits.  

Pay Range$180,000—$224,000 USD