# Jimin Z. > Product Design Lead @ NASA | Generally solving problems that are out of this world Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/jiminz ## Work Experience ### Product Design Lead (via San Jose State University Research Foundation) @ NASA Ames Research Center Jan 2019 – Present • Lead all aspects of the user research and design efforts for Playbook, a zero-to-one, SaaS planning and execution tool that supports exploration space missions, which includes overseeing and executing user research plans and design direction of Playbook • Spearhead design and CONOPS development for COCPIT, the mission planning tool for NASA’s $2.7B Mars 2020 Perseverance rover • Work cross-functionally with technical engineering, research, user, and project management teams to achieve OKRs and identify strategic design opportunities to attain user and organizational goals • Lead development efforts of Stardust DS, the design system informing Playbook, a far-reaching design system to streamline all future design and development processes within the team • Conduct user studies, contextual inquiries, task analyses, surveys, and other in-field observations to define requirements and validate needs for future iterations of Playbook tool • Evangelize user-centered design process and systems thinking across NASA • Oversee team intern program – including recruiting, hiring, training, project planning, project management, and mentoring • Act as mission planner and operational software support during NASA analog missions, including NEEMO, NEEMO NXT, BASALT, and HERA • Led the development of the NASA HUNCH program’s website – including end-to-end design and engineering • Act as co-investigator on Playbook research grant regarding crew planning performance • Present latest SPIFe team work/publications at academic conferences, industry meetings, and other public-facing events ### User Experience Designer (via San Jose State University Research Foundation) @ NASA Ames Research Center Jan 2015 – Jan 2019 • Applied user-centered design best practices to the team's core product, Playbook, a mobile-first web application for mission planning and execution • Collaborated with engineers and project managers to ensure feasibility of software designs • Conducted extreme environment field research (contextual inquiries, participatory observation, SME interviews) through NASA analog missions to understand user needs • Provided design guidance and operational support to colleagues at JPL on COCPIT, the planning tool for Mars 2020 Perseverance • Planned and conducted user tests to validate new and existing Playbook features • Supported quality assurance of production applications by creating QA test procedures, testing pre-release software, reporting bugs, and assisting in the resolution of those bugs ### Freelance Photographer @ shutter/SPEED × JZ Jan 2018 – Present | www.jiminzheng.photo • Provide freelance photography work for commercial, automotive, real estate, portrait, and event genres • Post-process photos for using Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop, including modifications to exposure, lighting, composition, color balance, image sequence, layout, etc. • Retouch photos to enhance overall look and feel and to remove distracting elements not consistent with customer vision and style requirements • Provide the highest level of customer service and ensure that photographs are consistent and high quality upon delivery to client • Provide in-person and virtual consultations to understand client needs and requirements • Maintain social media presence for freelance photo work through Instagram at @shutterspeedjz ### Contract Photographer @ Turo Jan 2018 – Jan 2019 • Photograph vehicle exteriors/interiors, unique details, and environmental portraits • Post-process photos for using Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop, including modifications to exposure, lighting, composition, color balance, image sequence, layout, etc. • Retouch photos to enhance overall look and feel and to remove distracting elements not consistent with Turo brand image • Ensure that photographs are consistent and high quality for customer-facing usage • Communicate with Turo hosts and coordinate with Turo photo team to meet photography needs of customers and Turo stakeholders • Maintain social media presence for Turo photo work through Instagram at @shutterspeedjz ### Project Manager @ MHCI Capstone Project with Bank of America Jan 2015 – Jan 2015 • Led a cross-functional team of 5 MHCI students through an 8-month HCI project to explore the idea of the open bank. • Guided the team in research, design, evaluation, and development of the final product. Acted as the main point of contact among 3 distinct groups of project stakeholders. • Worked with the team to create a revolutionary product that currently has 10 patents at the USPTO ### Senior Research Associate (Automotive) @ GfK Custom Research North America Jan 2013 – Jan 2014 • Developed and presented pre-purchase consumer insights to senior and executive management of major international automotive clients • Consulted clients on mass and luxury brand and model strategies in developing automotive markets worldwide • Provided deep dive analyses using statistical principles such as linear regression modeling, correlations, factor analyses, significance testing, and key driver analyses • Managed and grew client relationships through constant group and one-on-one interaction to address ad-hoc business questions and concerns • Continued the expansion GfK’s expertise in Latin American automotive markets through syndicated research programs in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Panama, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and Peru • Managed and supported internal and external clients with chronogram creation, questionnaire development, data processing, quality assurance, infographics development, and report production • Assisted with project logistics of qualitative research projects, including car clinics, focus groups, and in-depth interviews • Supervised and trained team members on data management, analyses writing, Excel, PowerPoint, and SPSS ### Research Associate (Automotive) @ GfK Custom Research North America Jan 2012 – Jan 2013 • Developed consumer insights on domestic and international monthly, quarterly, and annually syndicated studies for major automotive clients • Played key role in growing GfK’s reach in Latin American markets by expanding syndicated research program into Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Panama, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and Peru • Built client relationships by providing deliverables in a timely manner and answering ad hoc data and analyses-related inquiries • Conducted quality assurance analysis on syndicated databases and created efficiencies for data management processes • Produced annual pre-purchase consumer and industry trend reports • Assisted in project management and logistics of custom qualitative projects, including car clinics, focus groups, and in-depth interviews • Supervised and trained interns on data management, analyses writing, Excel, PowerPoint, and SPSS ### Automotive Research Intern @ GfK Custom Research North America Jan 2011 – Jan 2012 • Assisted in data analysis and trend spotting for major Japanese, Korean, and European automotive manufacturers • Supported senior research staff with data management and maintenance • Identified relevant auto make and model information in international markets including Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico • Assisted with logistics planning of market research projects such as consumer surveys and focus groups. • Created training decks for newly hired employees and interns ### Strategic Intelligence Analyst Intern @ SM&A Jan 2011 – Jan 2012 • Utilized Internet and government search tools (Input-GovWin, Centurion, FedBizOpps, and GAO) to gather and analyze secondary research information for competitive analysis of major aerospace and defense clients • Compiled research analyses into insight-rich PowerPoint decks for end-user consultants • Maintained awareness of current events in the U.S. and International governmental systems • Worked as part of a team of several interns to coordinate and integrate research activities ### Marketing Assistant Intern @ Centergistic Solutions Jan 2011 – Jan 2011 • Utilized techniques such as A/B testing, cursor hot-spot detection, and search engine optimization to create a more user-friendly company website with tools such as Photoshop, which resulted in a 150% increase in site traffic • Developed user interfaces for core company products and expanded their capabilities to new electronic mediums, such as televisions and smartphones • Expanded the company’s presence in social media, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Blogspot • Worked with senior management team to brainstorm and mock up new product ideas, including smartphone apps • Built and monitored ad campaigns using Google AdWords and tracked progress campaigns using Google Analytics • Wrote and published op-ed articles detailing the potential of social media and new technology in transforming the business landscape • Conducted market research to increase company awareness of call center industry • Created send-to-consumer marketing materials, including post cards and e-mail templates ## Education ### Master of Human-Computer Interaction (MHCI) Carnegie Mellon University Jan 2014 – Jan 2015 ### Dual Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Business Administration, Cognitive Psychology UC Irvine Jan 2008 – Jan 2012 ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jiminz - Portfolio: https://www.jiminzheng.com --- Source: https://flows.cv/jiminz JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/jiminz/resume.json Last updated: 2026-03-25