--- title: 'Senior UX Researcher at Drivemode' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-ux-researcher-drivemode-tokyo-shv3hajx1e72' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-30' --- # Senior UX Researcher at Drivemode - **Company:** Drivemode - **Location:** Tokyo, Japan - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** hybrid - **Posted:** 2026-10-27 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-30 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/drivemode/2da8da94-af1f-4cea-b504-b9dffadb65af ## Job description Our Mission: Driving technology always feels old. Not by a little bit. We believe vehicles can be a thousand times smarter, safer, and more connected to the world around us, and our mission is to see it happen. In 2019, we joined forces with Honda as their first startup acquisition, and now we’re expanding our vision into building the future of connected vehicles for millions of people around the world. Why Drivemode: Join Drivemode for an exciting startup environment and a vibrant culture that combines impactful work, competitive compensation, and excellent benefits. By becoming a part of our team, you'll contribute to a crucial mission that revolutionizes the way people engage with vehicles, addressing both business needs and the world's environmental challenges. This presents an exceptional opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and drive Honda's success in the automotive market. About The Role: Drivemode is looking for a Senior UX Researcher to join our growing UX Research team. This is our second dedicated UX research hire, and a rare opportunity to shape our research function. You’ll partner closely with product managers, designers, and engineers at both Drivemode and Honda to bring clarity and confidence to design and product decisions. Your work will connect business strategy to user needs, enabling teams to move quickly without losing sight of what matters most. We’re looking for someone who brings both rigor and flexibility to their methods and is energized by ambiguous, complex problem spaces. At Drivemode, researchers are valued strategic partners. You’ll be expected to influence roadmaps, advocate for the user, and inspire the broader design culture with curiosity, precision, and empathy. What You’ll Do: - Lead research that directly informs product direction and design decisions across multiple interfaces, including in-car systems and mobile applications. - Collaborate closely with PMs, designers, and engineers to identify key questions, prioritize learning goals, and translate insights into action. - Plan and conduct research using a range of methods—qualitative, quantitative, or mixed—based on what’s best for the problem. - Synthesize and communicate findings clearly to drive alignment, reduce product risk, and support better decision-making. - Help establish research best practices, tooling, and processes as the function grows. - Shape how we bring the user perspective into product development, from early concept through launch and iteration. - Create clarity for the business through data, insight, and effective communication. What We’re Looking For: - 5+ years of hands-on UX research experience in design and/or product organizations. - Experience as the sole or lead researcher in an organization, with an interest in building influence—not just executing studies. - A portfolio of research that has directly influenced digital products at scale. - Fluency across generative and evaluative methods, and the judgment to know when to use them. - Experience working in agile environments and navigating fast-moving, cross-functional teams. - Strong communication and storytelling skills in English and Japanese, with the ability to translate research into compelling narratives for a range of stakeholders. - A strategic mindset and comfort working in ambiguity. You ask the right questions before jumping to answers. Nice to Have: - Experience evaluating hardware-based user experiences. - Experience working in automotive (OEM or Tier 1). - Experience working with a globally distributed team. - Experience working in Japan or with Japanese customers. EEOC Statement: Drivemode is proud of a very diverse team with employees coming from 5 continents and 20+ countries as of today. Diversity in our workplace has played an important part in our success; we recognize each employee’s unique background, knowledge, experiences, ideas, and viewpoints, all of which are critical in developing products that have a positive impact on drivers around the world. Drivemode provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristics that make you unique. We take preventive measures, provide reporting channel, respond promptly to concerns, and take appropriate corrective action when misconduct is identified. Click here to learn more about Drivemode commitment and how to report inappropriate conduct. We are committed to creating an accessible and inclusive workplace and welcome candidates with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process and employment lifecycle to support individuals in performing their best work. ## About Drivemode ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Drivemode is a software and user experience division of Honda, developing connected car platforms, apps, and digital interfaces for Honda and Acura electric vehicles and motorcycles. - **Entity Type**: Private (Subsidiary of Honda Motor Co. Ltd., acquired in 2019) - **Headquarters**: Mountain View, California, USA (with additional office in Tokyo, Japan) - **Founded**: 2014 - **Founders**: Not publicly disclosed (founded by entrepreneurs from Zipcar and Tesla Motors) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Automotive technology, connected vehicles, software-defined vehicles, electric vehicle UX - **Target customers**: B2B (Honda, Acura, automakers); B2C (Drivemode mobile app users and fleet managers) - **Mission or purpose**: To make driving smarter, safer, and more connected by combining Silicon Valley software expertise with Honda's vehicle hardware platform. ## Products & Services - **[Drivemode App]**: A consumer-facing Android app that transforms a phone into a car's central computing device, enabling voice-to-text, music overlay on navigation, Do Not Disturb mode, and travel recommendations. Designed to NHTSA safety guidelines. - **[Driver Assistance & Analytics for Fleet Managers]**: A platform offering driver behavior monitoring, analytics, and safety features for commercial fleets. - **[Connected Car Platform for Automakers]**: A bring-your-own-device (BYOD) solution that lets automakers integrate smartphone-based connectivity into vehicles without custom hardware. - **[Honda EV & Motorcycle Software]**: Since the acquisition, Drivemode develops the in-car software and user experience for Honda's electric vehicles and a modern software platform for Honda's electric motorcycles. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private subsidiary) - **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue ~$8M (2026 estimate) – Total Funding $11M (prior to acquisition) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Panasonic (lead investor in Series A), Incubate Fund (seed), Honda R&D (acquirer) - **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 34.2% YoY to 111 employees; expanding team across Mountain View and Tokyo; working on new EV launches and motorcycle software projects; global team spanning 5 continents. ## Competitive Advantages - **Direct access to Honda's vehicle hardware and manufacturing** – allows integrated software-hardware development. - **Startup autonomy within a large corporate parent** – maintains flat culture, fast decision-making, and innovation while leveraging Honda's resources. - **Deep expertise in automotive-grade mobile UX** – app designed to NHTSA guidelines, with proven consumer adoption. - **Diverse, global team** – employees from 20+ countries bring unique perspectives for a product used worldwide. ## Strategic Focus - **Software-defined vehicles** – Leading Honda's transition to software-driven mobility, especially in EVs. - **Electric vehicle UX** – Creating clean, intuitive digital experiences for Honda's next-generation electric cars and motorcycles. - **Connected services** – Expanding platform capabilities for real-time data, navigation, and personalization. - **Talent growth** – Actively hiring across engineering, product, and design roles to support upcoming launches. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Flat organizational structure, transparency, and openness. Employees are trusted to make decisions and given freedom to innovate. - **Diversity & Inclusion**: 20+ nationalities represented; strong commitment to DEI and equal opportunity. - **Work Model**: Hybrid (office + remote). Core office days exist, but managers determine team-specific arrangements. Roles in Mountain View and Tokyo. - **Benefits**: - Comprehensive health & life insurance - Retirement benefits (401k / 日本の年金制度) - Generous PTO (20 days in first year for Tokyo; flexible PTO in US) - Paid sick leave, holiday swap option - Education and learning stipend - Probation period of 3 months with immediate benefits enrollment - **Visa Support**: Sponsorship available for Japan office (worldwide applicants welcome); US roles require work authorization but discussions about visa sponsorship are open. - **Language**: English is primary work language; Japanese language skills not required for many roles. ## Sources 1. [Drivemode Careers Page](https://www.drivemode.com/careers) 2. [LinkedIn Company Page](https://linkedin.com/company/drivemode) 3. [Built In Profile](https://builtin.com/company/drivemode) 4. [CB Insights Profile](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/drivemode) 5. [Lever Job Board](https://jobs.lever.co/drivemode) ## Other roles at Drivemode - [Senior Data Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-data-analyst-drivemode-tokyo-skdxj33d1hrf) — Tokyo, Japan - [Product Operations Manager (Contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/product-operations-manager-contract-drivemode-mountain-view-22xtb1dwbpt6) — Mountain View, CA - [Senior Legal and Internal Control Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-legal-and-internal-control-specialist-drivemode-tokyo-bzms7s4sgvn9) — Tokyo, Japan - [Senior Release Manager (Contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-release-manager-contract-drivemode-mountain-view-y4kkdmfqpmfe) — Mountain View, CA - [Full Stack Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/full-stack-software-engineer-drivemode-mountain-view-ev3w7ffwj7st) — Mountain View, CA - [Product Operations Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/product-operations-manager-drivemode-tokyo-xy37tpvfyasq) — Tokyo, Japan - [IT Admin (Contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/it-admin-contract-drivemode-mountain-view-n8rvx0b7am6w) — Mountain View, CA - [Opportunities for Candidates with Disabilities](https://feeny.ai/job/opportunities-for-candidates-with-disabilities-drivemode-tokyo-eq5mefwxnfy1) — Tokyo, Japan - [Staff Mobile Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-mobile-software-engineer-drivemode-mountain-view-xh51z3rshg2t) — Mountain View, CA - [プロダクトマネージャー (英語力を活かす)](https://feeny.ai/job/drivemode-tokyo-avvdvyex022m) — Tokyo, Japan