Research Data Analyst

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. We recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered and a current-generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. The Last of Us Parts I and II are also available on PC. Currently, we’re developing Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

Naughty Dog games are lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation and have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the studio’s success.

About the role

Naughty Dog is looking for a Research Data Analyst to join our User Research team and help us better understand how players engage with our games. In this role, you’ll work closely with Sony Game Analytics and development teams to turn player data into insights that directly support creative and production decisions. This position is ideal for someone who is curious, analytical, and deeply interested in how player behavior connects to game systems and design intent.

Responsibilities

• Analyze gameplay telemetry, player feedback, and research findings to identify trends, friction points, and opportunities across systems and features.
• Translate complex datasets into clear insights and recommendations that inform design, prioritization, and development strategy.
• Build and maintain dashboards and reporting tools to communicate key metrics and progress over time with tools like Tableau and Omni.
• Partner with Sony Game Analytics, Gameplay, Engineering, and Design to support telemetry design, event tracking, and data quality.
• Collaborate with User Research to connect quantitative analysis with qualitative findings from studies and playtests.
• Participate in research efforts to better understand player behavior firsthand and identify new measurement opportunities.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in data analysis, analytics, UX research support, or a related field.
• Experience working with telemetry data and game analytics workflows.
• Strong analytical and statistical skills, including experience with SQL, Python, R, MongoDB, or similar tools.
• Experience with analytics platforms such as Tableau, Looker, or similar platforms.
• A deep curiosity about player psychology, motivation, and behavior.
• High attention to detail, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to effectively present information to top management and key stakeholders.
• A collaborative mindset and adaptability to the ever-changing needs of video game production.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, or a related quantitative or research-focused field.
• Familiarity with narrative, single-player game research and player experience evaluation.
• Solid understanding of probability, statistics, and applied mathematical reasoning.
• Ability to interpret technical and research materials and communicate findings clearly in reports and presentations.
• Possesses a high degree of technical curiosity, regularly exploring how tools work under the hood.
• Prior experience with AAA console or PC game development.

Pay

The estimated base pay range for this role is $51.83—$64.76 USD per hour.

Benefits

This role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision.