Director, Player Experience (PX) Research

Ripple Effect Studios

Job Summary

Electronic Arts is seeking a Director, Player Experience (PX) Research to lead a global team dedicated to uncovering insights that shape exceptional player experiences. This senior leader will define and execute the vision for PX Research across EA's portfolio, guiding a high-performing research organization, partnering with central insights and analytics teams, and translating player data into impactful innovation, quality, and long-term engagement. The role requires a deep understanding of franchise strategies and the ability to influence decisions at scale.

Must Have

  • Define and execute the PX Research vision to fuel decisions across the product lifecycle.
  • Lead, mentor, and empower a diverse team of research leaders and individual contributors.
  • Partner with central teams to unify qualitative, quantitative, and behavioral data into holistic player stories.
  • Maintain deep understanding of franchise strategies and align player needs with business goals.
  • Advance research craft and methodology, fostering experimentation and data-driven approaches.
  • Ensure operational excellence and measure the impact of research across the organization.
  • 12+ years experience in player/user research or consumer insights, with 5+ years leading research teams.
  • Proven track record in developing research strategy influencing creative and business outcomes.
  • Experience collaborating with analytics, data science, and market research teams.
  • Strong leadership, storytelling, presentation, and influence skills.
  • Expertise in mixed-methods research (qualitative, quantitative, telemetry-based).

Perks & Benefits

  • Paid time off (3 weeks per year to start in US, vacation in BC)
  • Sick time (80 hours per year in US, 10 days in BC)
  • Paid company holidays (16 per year in US)
  • Paid time off to bond with baby (10 weeks in US, 12 weeks maternity/4 weeks parental/adoption in BC)
  • Medical/dental/vision insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • 401(k) (US)
  • Retirement plan (BC)
  • Extended health/dental/vision coverage (BC)
  • Bonus eligibility (certain roles)
  • Equity eligibility (certain roles)
  • Holistic approach to benefits programs (physical, emotional, financial, career, community wellness)
  • Complimentary games

Job Description

General Information

Locations: Los Angeles - Del Rey, California, United States of America

  • Location: Vancouver
  • Country: Canada
  • Location: Toronto (Glu Mobile)
  • Country: Canada
  • Location: Montreal
  • Country: Canada
  • Location: Austin
  • Country: United States of America
  • Location: Orlando
  • Country: United States of America
  • Location: Kirkland
  • Country: United States of America

Role ID

212011

Worker Type

Regular Employee

Studio/Department

EA Studios - Quality Verification

Work Model

Hybrid

Description & Requirements

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

At Electronic Arts, players are at the heart of everything we create. The Director, PX Research leads a global team of researchers dedicated to uncovering the insights that shape exceptional player experiences and drive the future of play.

As a senior leader within the Player & Quality Insights (PQI) organization, you will define and execute the vision for PX Research across EA’s global portfolio—ensuring that player understanding informs every strategic and creative decision. You will build and guide a high-performing research organization, partner across EA’s central insights and analytics teams, and translate player data into impact that drives innovation, quality, and long-term engagement.

Core Responsibilities

  • Define and Execute the PX Research Vision

Establish the strategic direction for PX Research, ensuring player insights fuel decisions across the full product lifecycle—from concept and playtesting to live service that satisfies our millions of players worldwide.

  • Lead and Develop an Industry Leading Team

Inspire, mentor, and empower a diverse team of research leaders and individual contributors to deliver high-quality, high-impact work across studios, markets, and platforms. Cultivate a culture that fuels curiosity, creativity, and speed—empowering researchers to think boldly, move fast, and solve problems collaboratively.

  • Activate Insights Across the Ecosystem

Partner closely with central partners to unify qualitative, quantitative, and behavioral data into holistic player stories that drive actionable outcomes. Champion the integration of sentiment, telemetry, and market intelligence to inform EA’s portfolio and franchise strategies.

  • Influence Strategy at Scale

Maintain a deep understanding of each franchise’s long-term strategy, objectives, and success metrics. Ensure player needs and motivations are directly aligned with these goals—informing decisions that shape product direction, innovation, and growth. Deliver compelling, insight-driven narratives that connect player understanding to business outcomes and long-term portfolio success.

  • Advance Research Craft and Methodology

Evolve and continuously improve how PX Research captures, interprets, and shares insights by fostering experimentation, continuous learning, and the adoption of AI-assisted and data-driven methodologies.

  • Operational Excellence and Measurable Impact

Partner with PX Research Operations to build clear, connected research roadmaps that scale best practices, optimize workflows, and measure the reach and impact of research across the organization.

Qualifications

  • 12+ years of experience in player or user research, consumer insights, or related fields, including 5+ years leading multi-disciplinary research teams.
  • Proven track record developing and executing a research strategy that influences both creative and business outcomes.
  • Experience collaborating with analytics, data science, and market research teams to synthesize insights and drive strategic decision-making.
  • Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor, motivate, and grow a distributed, diverse research organization.
  • Excellent storytelling, presentation, and influence skills—able to engage executives and product leaders with insight-driven narratives.
  • Expertise in mixed-methods research, with strong fluency in qualitative, quantitative, and telemetry-based approaches.
  • Deep passion for understanding players, their motivations, and behaviors—and for transforming that understanding into meaningful experiences that delight and inspire.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

PAY RANGES

  • British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$165,900 - $238,100 CAD
  • California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco) *$186,900 - $289,700 USD
  • Washington (depending on location e.g. Seattle vs. Spokane) *$178,200 - $239,200 USD

In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

In British Columbia, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

About Electronic Arts

We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.

6 Skills Required For This Role

Team Management Cad Computer Aided Design Game Texts Storytelling Market Research Data Science