Job description

Wealthfront is looking for a People Research Scientist to join our Organizational Performance group and study how employees perform, what enables success, and what environments and practices are most conducive to development. You will work closely with People Operations leadership and function leaders across the company. At Wealthfront, we ask a lot from our managers and senior individual contributors, who develop the people around them while contributing to the advancement of their craft. You will study their career progression to identify what helps them grow, with specific focus on the unique needs of each group, managers and individual contributors. Rather than just delivering insights, you will collaborate to turn findings into practices and programs. When your research points to a solution, you will work with peers and leaders to design a program, launch it, and measure its impact. A successful hire on this team will be a strong researcher, writer, and collaborator. Expertise in the research of individual and team performance will guide your efforts as an in-house researcher. Most of this job's output will consist of research briefs, program plans, training materials, and recommendations to leaders. Implementing new practices and programs will require close partnership and skillful collaboration. The ideal candidate is motivated to push the boundaries of employee and organizational performance; is motivated to experiment and innovate; and resonates with Wealthfront’s mission to improve our clients’ financial futures. Responsibilities Run qualitative and small-N quantitative research on performance, career progression, manager effectiveness, and retention, using interviews, focus groups, surveys, and our people data. Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to turn findings into programs. Design and launch new programs in partnership with function leaders, measure their results, and iterate to improve. Partner with People Operations leadership on organizational design, leveling, and career pathways, and set clear expectations for success at each level for individual contributors and managers. Build the first-time manager program that turns strong ICs into confident Coaches, and the early career pipeline that grows our next generation of homegrown talent. Help launch a mentorship program that accelerates employee development. Strengthen our assessment process to improve how we attract, develop and retain top talent. Analyze the data behind talent decisions, and present findings to senior leadership with clear recommendations. Qualifications A PhD in industrial-organizational psychology, organizational behavior, sociology, quantitative psychology, behavioral economics, or a related field. We are just as glad to meet candidates graduating now as those with a couple of years of industry experience. Evidence of putting theory into practice: published research or a dissertation with practical business implications, a program you designed and put into practice, or an analysis that changed how an organization operates. Depth in research methods, including interview and survey design, qualitative data analysis (coding), and some statistical analysis. A commitment to evidence-based practice, capable of separating scientifically sound methodology from superficial industry trends. Working proficiency in R or Python. Familiarity with SQL is a plus (or a strong willingness to learn it). A preference for building the program yourself over handing your findings off to someone else. Readiness to support People Ops leadership in advising senior leaders on what the data does and does not support. Clear writing across research briefs, program plans, and company communications. Discretion with sensitive employee data. An affinity for personal finance and investing, and the appetite to become an expert in our industry. Estimated annual salary range: $140,000 - $155,000 USD,equity and a discretionary bonus. Plus comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) with company match, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), generous time off, parental leave, wellness reimbursements, professional development, and an employee investing discount. About Wealthfront Here at Wealthfront, our mission is to create a financial system that favors people, not institutions. We do this by leveraging technology to build powerful, low-cost, and easy-to-use financial products that help modern investors grow and manage their money. We started with the ambition to transform the investment advisory industry when we pioneered automated investing in 2011. By automating strategies typically reserved for the wealthy, we unlocked access to high quality investment advice for a digitally-native generation that was underserved by traditional institutions. Since then, we've expanded to a full suite of products designed to help our clients save, spend, invest, and borrow for all of their goals, including: •A Cash Account that, through our program banks, offers one of the highest annual percentage yields on uninvested cash in the industry, while providing instant and secure access to your money with no account fees and a full suite of checking features. • Multiple automated investing portfolios managed for you and tailored for long-term wealth building across various financial needs, including general investing, retirement, family wealth management, and more. Our taxable investing accounts are designed to unlock tax savings through sophisticated strategies like fixed income, tax-loss harvesting, and direct indexing—which we offer at industry-leading low costs and accessible minimums. • A zero-commission Brokerage Account with 8000+ stocks and ETFs that’s designed to give DIY investors an incredibly easy way to get started investing. Plus, with our Cash Account, they can earn a high yield (from program banks) until the minute they’re ready to invest. • A digital-first mortgage experience designed to reduce costs, remove unnecessary friction, and aim to offer rates consistently below the national average. Our award-winning products have attracted over 1.5 million funded clients who trust us with more than $100 billion of their hard earned savings on our platform—and we're far from done. If you’re inspired to help us reshape the financial industry as we create our next chapter, let’s talk! For more information please visit www.wealthfront.com .We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Please review our candidate privacy notice . Disclosures: The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. References to the APY for the Cash Account are to the APY paid by insured depository institutions that participate in our Cash Sweep Program (the "Program Banks”). Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where it earns the variable APY. Wealthfront Brokerage partners with Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC, to offer certain checking features for the Cash Account. Wealthfront Brokerage also has a relationship with UMB Bank, National Association, Member FDIC, which may allow certain Cash Accounts to opt into a limited-purpose account number and UMB Bank routing and transit number which enables checking features like bill pay, direct deposits and more. Wealthfront Brokerage and Wealthfront Advisers are not affiliated with Green Dot Bank or UMB Bank. Fees and Eligibility requirements may apply to certain checking features, please see the Deposit Account Agreement for details. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Tax-Loss Harvesting benefits vary depending on the client's entire tax and investment profile. Wealthfront doesn’t provide tax advice. The Brokerage Account is a self-directed brokerage account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member of FINRA/SIPC. Clients are responsible for evaluating their investment opportunities and risks and making investment decisions. Investment management and advisory services–which are not FDIC insured–are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC (“Wealthfront Advisers”), an SEC-registered investment adviser. By “award-winning products”, please refer to wealthfront.com for more information. References to “Total Platform Assets” and “Funded Clients” include clients with assets in products offered by both Wealthfront Advisers and Wealthfront Brokerage. These figures are as of August 31, 2026. Wealthfront Advisers and Wealthfront Brokerage are wholly owned subsidiaries of Wealthfront Corporation.

Requirements

Must-haves

Run qualitative and small-N quantitative research on performance, career progression, manager effectiveness, and retention, using interviews, focus groups, surveys, and our people data.
Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to turn findings into programs. Design and launch new programs in partnership with function leaders, measure their results, and iterate to improve.
Partner with People Operations leadership on organizational design, leveling, and career pathways, and set clear expectations for success at each level for individual contributors and managers.
Build the first-time manager program that turns strong ICs into confident Coaches, and the early career pipeline that grows our next generation of homegrown talent.
Help launch a mentorship program that accelerates employee development.
Strengthen our assessment process to improve how we attract, develop and retain top talent.
Analyze the data behind talent decisions, and present findings to senior leadership with clear recommendations.
Evidence of putting theory into practice: published research or a dissertation with practical business implications, a program you designed and put into practice, or an analysis that changed how an organization operates.
Depth in research methods, including interview and survey design, qualitative data analysis (coding), and some statistical analysis.
A commitment to evidence-based practice, capable of separating scientifically sound methodology from superficial industry trends.
A preference for building the program yourself over handing your findings off to someone else.
Readiness to support People Ops leadership in advising senior leaders on what the data does and does not support.
Clear writing across research briefs, program plans, and company communications.
Discretion with sensitive employee data.
An affinity for personal finance and investing, and the appetite to become an expert in our industry.

Nice-to-haves

Working proficiency in R or Python. Familiarity with SQL is a plus (or a strong willingness to learn it).

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

pythonsql

Platform: lever
Effort: quick

Benefits

Benefits detected in the listing.

Dental

Vision

401(K)

Parental Leave

Wellness

Professional Development