UX Researcher - 6 months contract

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher - 6 Months Contract Company: Swissquote Location: Gland, Vaud, Switzerland Job Type: Full-time Contract Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Development Date Posted: January 22, 2026 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (3-6 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive product development by conducting end-to-end user research across investing, trading, daily banking, and cryptocurrency platforms.
• Translate complex user insights into clear, actionable recommendations for product managers, designers, and engineering teams.
• Define and measure key experience metrics to track the impact of product changes post-launch.
• Champion inclusive design principles and ethically handle user data within a regulated financial environment.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to support product strategy and de-risk significant product bets.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a critical, contract-based position designed to maintain research momentum on key product initiatives during a team member's extended leave. The focus is on delivering immediate impact and actionable insights within a defined six-month period, requiring a pragmatic and action-oriented researcher.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan and execute a range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including user interviews, usability studies, field studies, surveys, tree tests, and card sorts, strategically selecting the most appropriate method for the decision at hand and the available timeline.
• Synthesize research findings into concise, compelling narratives, clearly identifying opportunity areas and providing prioritized recommendations to drive product improvements.
• Partner with Product Management, Design, and Analytics teams to define and track key user experience success metrics (e.g., task success rates, System Usability Scale (SUS), UX-Likert Scale (UMUX-Lite), time-on-task, adoption, and retention rates) to measure the impact of product changes.
• Advocate for user-centricity and inclusive design by ensuring diverse participant recruitment, considering accessibility needs, and surfacing potential ethical considerations and risks, especially within the context of financial literacy and regulated environments.
• Contribute to product strategy by mapping user journeys, uncovering unmet user needs, informing product prioritization, and using lean experiments to de-risk significant product investments.
• Maintain and improve Research Operations (ResearchOps) by managing participant panels, screeners, consent forms, privacy protocols, study templates, and a well-organized research repository to enable self-service by other teams.
• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration by working closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers, presenting findings effectively in reviews, and facilitating workshops to facilitate decision-making processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on, execution-focused approach typical of contract roles. The candidate is expected to be proficient in managing research projects autonomously from planning to delivery, with a strong emphasis on delivering actionable outcomes that directly influence product decisions within the fixed contract term.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and relevant experience demonstrating proficiency in UX research methodologies are paramount. A degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field is often beneficial. Experience: 3-6 years of hands-on UX research experience within product teams, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked in fintech, brokerage, trading, wealth management, or daily banking environments, or other complex domain industries.

Required Skills:

• Mixed-Methods Fluency: Demonstrated expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research techniques, including in-depth interviewing, usability testing, survey design, and the ability to conduct basic statistical analysis (e.g., calculating confidence intervals, practical sample sizing).
• Strong Communication & Storytelling: Proven ability to synthesize complex research data into clear, concise, and compelling narratives, effectively presenting findings and recommendations to diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Evidence-Driven Approach: A practical understanding of when "just-enough" research is sufficient for quick decisions versus when rigorous methodology is required, demonstrating a bias for action.
• Ethical Judgment & Compliance: Sound understanding and application of ethical research practices, including informed consent, data privacy, and secure data handling, particularly within the context of a regulated financial industry.
• Tooling Familiarity: Experience with common user research platforms (e.g., Maze, UserTesting.com), survey tools (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics), basic analytics platforms, design tools (e.g., Figma), and research repository management tools.
• English Proficiency: Fluent in English (C1 level) for effective communication and presentations.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in brokerage, trading, wealth management, or daily banking domains, including familiarity with different investor types, risk appetites, and financial literacy levels.
• Working knowledge of persona development, user segmentation, journey analytics, and experience with product teams conducting experimentation and A/B testing.
• Proficiency in French, German, or Italian.
• Experience with accessibility testing (e.g., WCAG awareness) and working with assistive technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 3-6 years suggests a mid-to-senior level researcher capable of independent work and strategic input. The "must-have" skills highlight the need for a well-rounded researcher who can adapt methods to project needs and communicate effectively in a business context. Fintech experience is a strong plus due to the domain's complexity.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of research projects demonstrating end-to-end execution from problem definition to actionable insights and impact measurement.
• Include case studies that highlight your ability to select appropriate mixed-methods approaches based on project goals, timelines, and risk levels.
• Present examples of how your research directly influenced product decisions, leading to measurable improvements in user experience or business outcomes.
• Demonstrate your approach to synthesizing complex qualitative and quantitative data into clear, concise, and actionable recommendations for product teams.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have documented research plans, methodologies, findings, and recommendations, ensuring clarity and accessibility for stakeholders.
• Illustrate your experience in managing research operations, including participant recruitment strategies, consent management, and maintaining research repositories.
• Showcase your ability to define and track user experience metrics post-launch, demonstrating how you measure the long-term impact of research insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role like this, the portfolio is paramount. Candidates should prepare to walk through 2-3 key projects in detail, emphasizing their process, decision-making, and the tangible impact of their work. The focus should be on pragmatic, results-oriented research.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a UX Researcher with 3-6 years of experience in Switzerland, particularly in a high-cost-of-living area like Gland, the estimated gross annual salary for a full-time equivalent contract role would likely range from CHF 90,000 to CHF 120,000. As this is a 6-month contract, the hourly or monthly rate would be calculated accordingly. Benefits: As a contract position, benefits typically differ from permanent roles. Potential benefits may include:

• Competitive contract rate.
• Opportunity to work with a leading Swiss financial institution.
• Exposure to diverse financial product areas (trading, investing, crypto, banking).
• Potential for extension or future opportunities within Swissquote.
• Hybrid work flexibility.
• Professional development through hands-on project experience.

Working Hours: The role is advertised as full-time, implying approximately 40 hours per week. Specific daily schedules can often be flexible to accommodate hybrid work arrangements and individual productivity needs, within the context of team collaboration and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on industry benchmarks for contract UX Researchers in Switzerland, considering the specified experience level and location. Specific compensation will depend on the candidate's experience, negotiation, and the defined scope of the contract. Benefits for contract roles are typically more limited and directly tied to the contract agreement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Technology (Fintech) / Online Banking & Trading. Swissquote is a prominent player in the digital finance sector, offering a wide array of services including trading, investing, and banking. This industry demands a high degree of precision, security, and user trust. Company Size: Swissquote has over 1000 employees, classifying it as a large organization. This size implies established processes, a significant customer base, and opportunities for impact across various product lines, alongside potential for structured collaboration. Founded: Founded in 1996, Swissquote has a long history in the digital finance space, indicating stability, experience, and a forward-thinking approach to technology and online services.

Team Structure:

• The UX Researcher will likely be part of a Product or Design team, reporting to a UX Lead, Head of Product, or a similar senior role.
• This role involves close collaboration with Product Managers, UI/UX Designers, Data Analysts, and Engineering teams across different product domains (investing, trading, crypto, daily banking).
• The "hybrid" work environment suggests a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work, fostering flexibility while maintaining team cohesion.

Methodology:

• Swissquote emphasizes a pragmatic, lean approach to research, scaling methods to fit the decision, timeline, and risk. This suggests a focus on efficiency and speed to insight.
• Findings are shared through concise formats like "short reads" and live debriefs, with an emphasis on tracking decisions and their subsequent outcomes over time, indicating a data-driven and accountability-focused culture.
• The company values combining differences and celebrating steps together, pointing towards an inclusive and collaborative team environment.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Swissquote's culture appears to balance the rigor required in finance with a modern, flexible work environment. The emphasis on lean research and outcome tracking is crucial for a contract role, as it implies a focus on immediate, tangible value delivery.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-to-senior level UX Researcher role, focused on independent execution of research projects. It offers significant responsibility for shaping product direction through user insights. While it's a contract position, successful performance could lead to extensions or opportunities for full-time roles. Reporting Structure: The researcher will likely report to a manager within the Product or Design department, working closely with Product Managers and Designers on specific product initiatives. The role emphasizes collaboration rather than direct management of a team. Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's work directly influences the usability, desirability, and effectiveness of Swissquote's digital platforms. By translating user needs into product decisions, the role has a significant impact on customer satisfaction, adoption rates, client retention, and ultimately, the company's success in the competitive fintech market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Deepening: Opportunity to gain extensive experience in the complex and regulated fintech domain, specifically in areas like trading, investing, and cryptocurrency.
• Methodological Expansion: Exposure to a pragmatic, lean research approach, learning to efficiently scale methods to various project needs.
• Cross-Functional Expertise: Enhanced collaboration skills with product, design, engineering, and analytics teams, understanding how user research integrates into broader product development lifecycles.
• Portfolio Enhancement: A strong six-month contract with a reputable financial institution provides valuable experience and demonstrable impact for future career opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, "growth" is often measured by the breadth and depth of experience gained and the demonstrable impact on projects. This role offers a chance to work on high-impact products within a leading fintech company, which can significantly bolster a researcher's portfolio and career trajectory.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Hybrid," indicating a mix of working from the office and remotely. This suggests a collaborative office space designed to facilitate team interactions, workshops, and focused work sessions. Office Location(s): The primary office location is Gland, Vaud, Switzerland. The hybrid nature implies that employees will be expected to spend a portion of their working week at this office.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid setup and emphasis on cross-functional work suggest an environment that encourages interaction, brainstorming, and shared problem-solving.
• Technology & Tools: Employees will have access to the necessary tools and technologies for UX research, product development, and communication, including design software (Figma), research platforms (Maze), and standard office productivity suites.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with product managers, designers, engineers, and fellow researchers, facilitating knowledge sharing and agile decision-making.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time (approximately 40 hours per week). The hybrid model typically allows for some flexibility in daily scheduling, allowing researchers to balance in-office collaboration days with remote work focused on analysis and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment is a key aspect of this role, requiring candidates to be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively. The office in Gland serves as the hub for in-person interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and alignment with the contract duration and hybrid work model.
• Portfolio Presentation & Deep Dive: A more in-depth interview where candidates present 1-2 key UX research case studies from their portfolio. This will focus on their research process, methodology choices, problem-solving skills, and the impact of their work. Expect detailed questions about their contributions and decision-making.
• Cross-Functional Interview: An interview with potential collaborators (e.g., a Product Manager, a Designer) to assess teamwork, communication style, and ability to integrate research findings into the product development workflow.
• Hiring Manager/Senior Stakeholder Interview: A final discussion to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with Swissquote's pragmatic research approach.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Select High-Impact Projects: Choose 2-3 projects that best demonstrate your mixed-methods expertise, ability to deliver actionable insights, and tangible impact on product outcomes.
• Structure Your Narratives: For each project, clearly outline: the problem/opportunity, your role and responsibilities, the research questions, the methodologies used and why, key findings, recommendations, and the resulting impact (quantified if possible).
• Highlight Pragmatism: Emphasize how you adapted your research approach to fit timelines, resources, and decision-making needs, showcasing your "just-enough" research philosophy.
• Showcase Communication: Be prepared to clearly articulate complex findings and defend your recommendations. Demonstrate how you tailored your communication for different audiences.
• Address Ethical Considerations: Be ready to discuss how you handled data privacy, consent, and ethical dilemmas in your research.

Challenge Preparation:

• While not explicitly mentioned, be prepared for potential discussion-based scenarios or hypothetical research problems related to financial products.
• Focus on articulating your thought process for tackling such challenges, including how you would define research questions, select methods, and plan execution within a limited timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on the candidate's ability to articulate their past work and demonstrate their practical, results-oriented approach to UX research. A strong, well-prepared portfolio is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools like Maze, UserTesting.com, Lookback, or similar for conducting remote usability studies, surveys, and unmoderated testing.
• Survey Tools: Proficiency in designing and deploying surveys using platforms such as SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Google Forms, or Typeform.
• Design Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with Figma for reviewing designs, understanding user flows, and potentially annotating prototypes.
• Analytics Tools: Basic understanding of web or product analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) to complement qualitative findings with quantitative data.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Ability to interpret data from analytics platforms to understand user behavior and track key metrics.
• Experience in creating clear reports and presentations that synthesize both qualitative and quantitative findings for various stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data is managed and how research insights can inform CRM strategies or automated user journeys might be beneficial. Familiarity with how product decisions impact these systems is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "tooling familiarity" suggests that hands-on experience with specific platforms used for research execution and data analysis is expected. While a comprehensive list isn't provided, candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with common industry tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Pragmatism & Efficiency: A core value is the "pragmatic, lean approach," meaning researchers are expected to be efficient, resourceful, and focused on delivering value quickly.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Findings are not just reported but are used to "track decisions and outcomes over time," highlighting a commitment to evidence-based product development.
• Collaboration & Inclusion: The company culture encourages "combining our differences to imagine, discuss... and celebrate every step together," indicating a value for diverse perspectives and teamwork.
• Impact & Ownership: The role's focus on directly shaping products and measuring impact suggests a culture that values ownership and tangible contributions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Researchers are expected to work closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers, acting as a bridge between user needs and product development.
• Lean & Agile: Collaboration likely follows agile principles, with frequent communication, iterative feedback loops, and rapid adaptation to new information.
• Knowledge Sharing: The practice of sharing findings in "short reads and live debriefs" promotes open communication and ensures insights are widely disseminated and understood.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture at Swissquote appears to be modern, flexible, and results-oriented, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and leveraging data to drive product decisions. This is crucial for a contract researcher to integrate effectively and deliver value quickly.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Fast-Paced Environment: Working on key initiatives during a team member's leave requires rapid onboarding and immediate contribution.
• Balancing Rigor and Speed: The "pragmatic, lean" approach means finding the right balance between thorough research and the need for timely insights in a fast-moving fintech landscape.
• Domain Complexity: Understanding the nuances of financial products, user types (investors, traders, daily banking users), and regulatory requirements can be challenging.
• Contract Duration: Delivering significant impact within a 6-month timeframe requires focused effort and efficient project management.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Fintech Domain Expertise: Deepen understanding of user needs and behaviors within the complex financial services industry.
• Lean UX Research Methodologies: Gain practical experience in scaling research methods effectively for speed and impact.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Enhance skills in working with diverse teams (Product, Design, Engineering, Analytics) to influence product strategy.
• Impact Measurement: Develop expertise in defining and tracking key UX metrics to demonstrate research's value and ROI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for contract roles in dynamic industries. Successfully navigating these challenges provides significant learning opportunities, particularly in practical application and strategic impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to deliver research findings quickly with limited data. What was your approach and what was the outcome?" (Focus on pragmatic research, bias to action).
• "How do you decide which research method to use for a specific product decision? Walk us through an example where you chose a less common method and why." (Focus on methodological fluency and strategic selection).
• "Imagine you discover a significant usability issue late in the product cycle. How would you communicate this to stakeholders and what recommendations would you prioritize?" (Focus on communication, prioritization, and ethical considerations).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working in the fintech industry, specifically with Swissquote's products like trading or crypto?" (Demonstrate research into the company and industry).
• "How do you approach inclusive design and ensure diverse user representation in your research?" (Align with company values and ethical considerations).
• "How would you collaborate with product managers and designers who may have different priorities or perspectives on user needs?" (Showcase communication and collaboration skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline: The Business/Product Problem, Your Role & Responsibilities, Research Questions, Methodology (and why), Key Findings, Recommendations, and The Impact/Outcome (quantified if possible).
• Highlight Pragmatic Choices: Emphasize how you adapted your methods to fit timelines, resources, and decision-making needs. Showcase your "just-enough" research approach.
• Demonstrate Actionable Insights: Clearly articulate how your findings led to specific product changes or decisions.
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your specific contributions, the rationale behind your methodological choices, and how you handled challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing a blend of strong research skills, pragmatic execution, effective communication, and a proactive, collaborative attitude, all tailored to the specific needs of a contract role in a regulated industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your 3-6 years of UX research experience, particularly emphasizing mixed-methods fluency, pragmatic research approaches, and experience in complex domains (fintech is a significant plus).
• Resume Optimization: Use keywords from the job description such as "mixed-methods," "qualitative," "quantitative," "usability studies," "surveys," "product strategy," "ResearchOps," and "ethical considerations." Quantify achievements wherever possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting 1-2 key case studies from your portfolio, focusing on the structure outlined in the "Portfolio Presentation Strategy" section. Be ready to discuss your approach to lean research and stakeholder collaboration.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Swissquote's services, target audience, and recent product developments. Understand their stated values regarding innovation, collaboration, and their pragmatic approach to research.

⚠️ 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.