Lead User Researcher, Onshore Trading and Payments

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead User Researcher, Onshore Trading and Payments Company: OKX Location: San Jose, California, United States Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Research / Product Insights Date Posted: November 03, 2025 Experience Level: 10+ Years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a foundational, individual contributor role focused on establishing user research standards, strategy, and operating models within the Onshore Trading and Payments division.
• The position requires extensive hands-on research leadership to drive evidence-based product decisions for trading, payments, and emerging AI-powered capabilities.
• The Lead User Researcher will have high visibility across product portfolios and executive leadership, directly influencing strategic product direction and prioritization.
• Accountable for ensuring research insights translate into measurable product and business improvements, reducing risk, and accelerating successful outcomes for global product portfolios.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Lead User Researcher," the description emphasizes an Individual Contributor (IC) role focused on establishing foundational research capabilities. This suggests a strategic, hands-on approach rather than direct people management, aiming to build out the research function. The role's impact is tied to driving product strategy and performance metrics, aligning it closely with GTM and product operations principles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and implement the foundational research strategy and a scalable working model for the user research discipline within the specified product areas.
• Lead end-to-end research initiatives, encompassing planning, participant recruitment, moderation, in-depth analysis, synthesis of findings, and activation of insights.
• Translate complex customer insights into clear, actionable product decisions, opportunity sizing, and prioritization frameworks that demonstrably improve product adoption, engagement, and business performance.
• Influence critical inflection points in product strategy by providing evidence-based recommendations that mitigate risk and accelerate the achievement of desired business outcomes.
• Conduct research that accounts for and reflects cultural, regulatory, and behavioral nuances across diverse user populations in key global markets, including the US, EU, Brazil, and UAE.
• Collaborate closely with Data Science, Analytics, and Strategy teams to develop comprehensive, evidence-backed recommendations that effectively resonate with executive leadership.
• Communicate research findings through compelling narratives and presentations, fostering alignment and driving concrete action among senior stakeholders.
• Leverage behavioral datasets and analytics to triangulate research findings, validate hypotheses, and sharpen product differentiation strategies.
• Establish and mature ResearchOps foundations, including participant programs, research tooling, governance frameworks, and insight-driven KPI tracking mechanisms.
• Mentor product and design partners to elevate research literacy and promote customer-centric decision-making, acting as a subject matter expert without direct line management authority.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a strategic and operational focus. The emphasis on "foundational research strategy," "scalable working model," and "ResearchOps foundations" indicates a need for process definition and implementation, crucial for operations roles. The requirement to "translate research into clear decisions, opportunity sizing, and prioritization" directly links user research to business strategy and GTM execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Behavioral Science, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• 10+ years of dedicated UX research experience, with a significant portion involving strategic insight leadership for complex, interconnected product ecosystems.
• Proven track record of translating customer insights into tangible strategic outcomes, such as demonstrably improved user adoption, engagement, conversion rates, customer retention, or successful market expansion.
• Demonstrated experience influencing critical product roadmap trade-offs, investment decisions, and key performance metrics through research findings.
• Mastery of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, coupled with strong methodological judgment and the ability to select appropriate approaches for diverse research questions.
• Experience operating within regulated, data-intensive environments, specifically within the fintech, cryptocurrency, payments, or trading platform industries.
• Demonstrated success in conducting research and delivering insights across global markets and for culturally diverse audiences.
• Exceptional executive-level communication, strategic framing, and insight storytelling skills, capable of conveying complex information clearly and persuasively.
• Ability to exhibit clarity, leadership, and drive within dynamic, fast-moving, and often ambiguous environments.

Required Skills:

• User Research Strategy: Ability to define and implement a comprehensive research strategy aligned with business objectives.
• End-to-End Research Execution: Proficiency in planning, recruiting, moderating, analyzing, synthesizing, and activating research findings across diverse methodologies.
• Insight to Action Translation: Skill in converting research insights into actionable product decisions, opportunity sizing, and prioritization frameworks that drive measurable business impact.
• Executive Communication & Storytelling: Exceptional ability to articulate complex research findings and strategic implications to senior leadership through compelling narratives.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience conducting research involving AI-assisted decision-making or human-AI interaction.
• Development and implementation of insight activation playbooks to ensure research results drive sustained business improvement.
• Proven experience establishing or scaling a research capability as a senior individual contributor.
• Familiarity with behavioral analytics tools and supporting product-led growth initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements highlight a blend of deep research expertise and strategic business acumen. The emphasis on "strategic insight leadership," "influencing roadmap trade-offs," and "translating customer insight into strategic outcomes" positions this role as critical for product strategy and GTM alignment, requiring operations-minded individuals who can bridge research and business objectives. The "Nice to Haves" point towards a forward-looking role in AI and growth initiatives.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate case studies showcasing the strategic impact of user research on product direction, prioritization, and business outcomes (e.g., adoption, engagement, conversion, retention).
• Provide examples of how research has influenced roadmap trade-offs, investment decisions, or key performance metrics within complex product ecosystems.
• Showcase experience in defining and scaling research strategies or operating models, particularly within regulated or data-intensive environments.
• Present instances where research has been successfully activated across global markets and culturally diverse user populations.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of frameworks or methodologies used for translating research insights into actionable product decisions and opportunity sizing.
• Documentation or case studies illustrating the establishment of ResearchOps foundations, including participant programs, tooling, governance, or insight-driven KPI tracking.
• Evidence of collaboration with Data Science, Analytics, and Strategy teams to create integrated, evidence-backed recommendations.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate research findings through compelling, executive-level narratives that drive alignment and action.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on establishing research foundations and influencing strategy, a portfolio demonstrating process definition, strategic impact, and operational execution is crucial. This goes beyond simply showing research projects to highlighting how research was operationalized and its measurable contribution to business goals, a key aspect for operations professionals.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $268,333 - $313,055 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Competitive total compensation package, including base salary, performance bonus, and long-term incentives.
• Learning & Development (L&D) programs designed to foster professional growth.
• Education subsidy to support continuous learning and skill development.
• Various team-building programs and company events to foster camaraderie and engagement.
• Wellness and meal allowances to support employee well-being.
• Comprehensive healthcare schemes for employees and their dependents, ensuring robust medical coverage.
• Additional benefits to be disclosed during the hiring process.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time).

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and falls within the upper quartile for senior research roles in high-cost-of-living areas like San Jose, California. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on professional development and employee well-being, which are attractive to experienced professionals. The mention of performance bonuses and long-term incentives suggests a results-oriented culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Cryptocurrency Exchange / Financial Technology (Fintech) Company Size: While not explicitly stated, OKX is a global leader in the crypto space, suggesting a large, rapidly growing organization with a significant employee base across multiple international offices. Founded: OKX was founded in 2017.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Onshore Trading and Payments division, indicating a focus on specific product lines within OKX's broader offerings.
• The Lead User Researcher will be a foundational IC, likely working closely with Product Management, Design, Data Science, Analytics, and Strategy teams.
• Collaboration is expected with executive leadership, highlighting a flat or matrixed reporting structure where influence is key.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a "data-driven" approach, as evidenced by the need to integrate behavioral datasets and collaborate with analytics teams.
• Core principles like "We Before Me," "Do the Right Thing," and "Get Things Done" suggest a culture that values teamwork, integrity, and execution.
• The role is expected to establish research standards and operating models, implying a focus on process optimization and scalable execution.

Company Website: https://www.okx.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: OKX operates in the dynamic and highly regulated crypto/fintech industry. This context is critical for a User Researcher, requiring an understanding of user trust, security, financial literacy, and regulatory compliance. The company's principles suggest a results-oriented and collaborative culture, important for understanding team dynamics and how decisions are made.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a senior, foundational Individual Contributor (IC) at a Lead level. It requires establishing new processes and strategies, indicating a significant level of autonomy and influence. The focus is on strategic impact and building out a function, rather than managing a team directly.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, the role reports to senior leadership and collaborates with cross-functional teams including Product, Design, Data Science, and Analytics. This suggests a position that bridges research insights with product and business strategy at a high level.

Operations Impact: The Lead User Researcher will directly impact the trajectory of critical product lines (Onshore Trading, Payments, AI capabilities) by ensuring product decisions are grounded in user needs and market realities. This influence translates directly into user adoption, engagement, revenue generation, and market competitiveness – key metrics for GTM and Revenue Operations.

Growth Opportunities:

• Functional Leadership: Opportunity to build and scale the user research practice within OKX, defining its methodology, processes, and impact measurement.
• Strategic Influence: Deep involvement in shaping product strategy for high-growth areas like trading, payments, and AI, leading to significant career development in product strategy and GTM planning.
• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop deep collaboration skills and understanding of data science, analytics, and business strategy within the complex fintech/crypto domain.
• Mentorship: Formal opportunity to mentor product and design partners, honing leadership and knowledge-sharing skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for a seasoned researcher to shape a function from the ground up, which is highly valuable for operations professionals looking to build scalable processes and demonstrate strategic impact. The growth path leans towards strategic influence and functional leadership within a cutting-edge industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job posting includes #LI-HYBRID, indicating a hybrid work model. This suggests a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility. Office Location(s): San Jose, California, United States. This location places the role within a major technology hub, offering access to a strong talent pool and industry networks.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid nature implies a need for effective remote collaboration tools and practices, alongside in-office engagement for key meetings and strategic sessions.
• As a Lead IC, the workspace will likely involve significant independent work, deep analysis, and strategic planning, complemented by frequent cross-functional interactions.
• Access to relevant research tools, data analytics platforms, and collaboration software will be essential for success.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility expected due to the dynamic nature of the fintech and crypto industries, and the global scope of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work arrangement is common in tech roles and requires individuals who can manage their time effectively and collaborate across different work settings. The San Jose location is significant for talent acquisition and networking within the tech and fintech sectors.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application, resume, and portfolio to assess alignment with required experience and skills, with a focus on strategic research impact.
• Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call: Discussion to understand career trajectory, motivations, and initial fit for the role and company culture.
• Portfolio Presentation & Deep Dive: Candidates will likely present 2-3 key case studies from their portfolio, detailing research strategy, methodologies, insights, and crucially, the resulting business impact and strategic influence. Expect in-depth questions on process, decision-making, and handling ambiguity.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders (e.g., Product Leads, Design Leads, Data Science/Analytics representatives) to assess collaboration style, communication effectiveness, and ability to influence across disciplines.
• Executive Interview: Final interview with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, executive communication skills, and fit with company values and vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business problem, the research approach, the key insights, and most importantly, the quantifiable business impact (e.g., metrics improved, risks mitigated, strategic shifts enabled). Operations professionals value demonstrable ROI.
• Showcase Strategy & Process: Highlight how you defined research strategy, established operating models, or scaled research capabilities. Detail your process for translating insights into actionable decisions and influencing roadmaps.
• Demonstrate Executive Communication: Select case studies where you successfully influenced senior stakeholders. Be prepared to explain how you framed the problem and communicated findings to drive action.
• Address Ambiguity & Complexity: Include examples of navigating complex product ecosystems, regulated environments, or fast-paced, dynamic markets. Showcase your methodological judgment in choosing the right approach.
• ResearchOps Elements: If possible, include examples of how you’ve contributed to or established participant programs, tooling, governance, or KPI tracking related to research.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a case study or hypothetical scenario where you might be asked to outline a research strategy for a new product feature, a market entry, or a complex user problem.
• Practice articulating your thought process, methodological choices, and how you would measure success and impact.
• Anticipate questions about how you collaborate with product managers, engineers, and data scientists, and how you handle conflicting priorities or feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to test strategic thinking, execution capability, and influence – all critical for operations roles. The emphasis on portfolio presentation and impact metrics is a direct parallel to how operations professionals demonstrate value. Preparing to discuss "how" you achieved results and "how" you influence is key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for managing participant recruiting, scheduling, and potentially conducting remote moderated or unmoderated studies (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics).
• Survey & Feedback Tools: Platforms for gathering qualitative and quantitative feedback (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Qualtrics, Pendo).
• Collaboration & Documentation: Standard productivity suites (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello), and knowledge management systems (e.g., Confluence, Notion).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Behavioral Analytics: Tools to analyze user behavior on platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Pendo).
• Data Visualization Tools: Platforms for creating dashboards and reports (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker) to complement qualitative findings.
• Statistical Software: Potentially R, Python, SPSS, or similar for quantitative analysis.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user insights feed into CRM strategies or product-led growth initiatives is beneficial. Familiarity with platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot from a user behavior perspective could be advantageous.
• Automation Tools: Experience with tools that can automate research workflows or data collection (e.g., Zapier, scripting).

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with a range of research tools is expected. However, for an operations-minded candidate, demonstrating how these tools integrate into a scalable research process, how data from them informs strategic decisions, and how they contribute to KPI tracking is more critical than just listing tool names.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A strong emphasis on understanding and advocating for the user, ensuring their needs are central to product development and business strategy.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: A commitment to using evidence, both qualitative and quantitative, to inform strategic choices and mitigate risk.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing a "We Before Me" approach, encouraging cross-functional partnerships to achieve shared goals.
• Integrity & Execution: Adhering to "Do the Right Thing" and "Get Things Done," implying a focus on ethical practices and efficient, effective delivery.
• Innovation & Adaptability: Operating in the fast-paced crypto/fintech space requires a culture that embraces change, new technologies (like AI), and continuous learning.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expected to work closely with Product, Design, Data Science, and Analytics, requiring strong communication and partnership skills.
• Influence & Mentorship: Will need to influence stakeholders without direct authority and mentor team members, fostering a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment.
• Executive Engagement: Regular interaction with senior leadership necessitates clear, concise, and strategic communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding OKX's core principles ("We Before Me," "Do the Right Thing," "Get Things Done") is crucial for aligning with the company's operational ethos. For an operations professional, demonstrating how these values translate into practical work habits, such as prioritizing team success, maintaining ethical standards, and driving projects to completion, will be highly regarded.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing a New Function: Building a foundational research strategy and operating model in a rapidly evolving company and industry requires significant initiative, strategic planning, and stakeholder management.
• Bridging Research and Business Impact: Translating deep user insights into measurable business outcomes and influencing high-stakes strategic decisions can be challenging, requiring strong analytical and communication skills.
• Navigating a Dynamic Industry: The crypto and fintech space is subject to rapid technological advancements, market volatility, and evolving regulatory landscapes, demanding continuous learning and adaptability.
• Global Market Nuances: Conducting research across diverse cultural, regulatory, and linguistic contexts (US, EU, Brazil, UAE) presents complexity in methodology and interpretation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Opportunity to define and lead the user research function, gaining experience in functional strategy and operational scaling.
• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge in fintech, crypto, trading, payments, and AI-driven financial services through hands-on work and exposure to industry trends.
• Advanced Methodologies: Potential to explore and implement advanced research techniques, including those related to human-AI interaction and behavioral analytics.
• Executive Presence: Develop enhanced executive communication and strategic influencing skills through regular interaction with senior leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying these challenges and framing them as opportunities for growth and skill development is key for an operations-minded candidate. The ability to not only identify challenges but also propose strategic solutions and mitigation plans demonstrates operational thinking and leadership potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach establishing a foundational user research strategy and operating model for OKX's Onshore Trading and Payments division?" (Focus on process, scalability, stakeholder alignment, and initial impact metrics).
• "Describe a time you translated complex user insights into a strategic product decision that had a significant business impact. What was your process, and how did you measure success?" (Highlight your end-to-end research process, insight activation, and quantifiable results).
• "How do you ensure your research findings reduce risk and accelerate successful outcomes for product roadmaps, especially in a fast-paced, regulated environment like crypto?" (Discuss risk mitigation frameworks, prioritization methodologies, and data-driven decision support).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Given OKX's core principles ('We Before Me,' 'Do the Right Thing,' 'Get Things Done'), how would you embody these in your role as a Lead User Researcher?" (Connect your work style and approach to these values, e.g., collaborative problem-solving, ethical research practices, efficient execution).
• "How would you mentor product and design partners to improve their research literacy and customer-centricity without direct line management?" (Focus on your ability to influence, teach, and build capability through collaboration).
• "What are the unique challenges and opportunities of conducting user research in the cryptocurrency and fintech space, and how would you address them?" (Showcase your industry awareness and strategic thinking).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, clearly define: Problem/Opportunity -> Your Role & Approach -> Methodology -> Key Insights -> Strategic Recommendations -> Impact & Outcomes (Quantifiable Metrics).
• Focus on Influence: Emphasize how you communicated findings to senior stakeholders and how your work directly influenced product strategy, roadmap decisions, or business KPIs.
• Process Details: Be ready to discuss the "how" behind your research – your planning, recruitment, analysis, and activation processes. Highlight any ResearchOps elements you implemented or contributed to.
• Tailor to OKX: Research OKX's products (trading, payments, wallet) and their target markets. Be prepared to discuss how your experience is directly relevant to their specific business challenges and opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions will likely probe for strategic thinking, operational process design, and demonstrable business impact. Candidates should prepare concrete examples that showcase their ability to not just do research, but to operationalize research for strategic business advantage, a hallmark of successful operations professionals.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead User Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the OKX careers site via the provided link.
• Curate Your Portfolio for Impact: Select 2-3 case studies that most clearly demonstrate your ability to define research strategy, execute end-to-end research, translate insights into actionable business outcomes, and influence senior leadership. Emphasize quantifiable results and your process for driving impact.
• Optimize Your Resume for Operations Keywords: Ensure your resume highlights experience in "product strategy," "research operations," "stakeholder management," "influencing roadmaps," "data-driven decision making," and "driving business impact" within regulated industries like fintech or crypto.
• Prepare Your Narrative for Influence: Practice articulating your career journey, your approach to building research functions, and specific examples of how you've driven strategic change and measurable business results. Be ready to discuss your methodology and its operational implications.
• Research OKX's Products and Market: Understand their offerings in trading, payments, and AI. Familiarize yourself with their company principles and recent news to demonstrate genuine interest and strategic alignment during interviews.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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