Wealthfront
People Research Scientist
$140K–$155K
Palo Alto, CA +1 · Hybrid · Full-time · Posted Jul 17, 2026
- Location
- Palo Alto, CA
San Francisco, CA - Experience
- Candidates graduating now or with a couple of years of industry experience are welcomed.
- Education
- PhD in industrial-organizational psychology, organizational behavior, sociology, quantitative psychology, behavioral economics, or a related field.
About the job
Research employee performance and career progression, then use findings to design, launch, and evaluate talent and development programs.
What you'll do
- Conduct qualitative and small-N quantitative research on performance, career progression, manager effectiveness, and retention; present findings and recommendations to senior leaders.
- Partner with People Operations and function leaders on organizational design, leveling, career pathways, and programs including manager development, mentorship, and early-career talent.
- Measure program outcomes and iterate; strengthen talent assessment and advise leaders on what data supports.
What they ask for
- PhD in industrial-organizational psychology, organizational behavior, sociology, quantitative psychology, behavioral economics, or a related field.
- Evidence of applying research or analysis in practice, such as published research, a dissertation with business implications, or a program or analysis that changed an organization.
- Research methods expertise, including interview and survey design, qualitative data analysis, and some statistical analysis.
- Working proficiency in R or Python; clear writing and discretion with sensitive employee data.
Nice to have
- Familiarity with SQL, or strong willingness to learn it.
- Affinity for personal finance and investing.
Pay
$140,000 - $155,000 USD (base salary)
Tools
R, Python, SQL
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