UX Researcher (Blockchain Foundation)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher (Blockchain Foundation)

Company: Hyphen Connect Limited

Location: EMEA (On-site)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Development

Date Posted: March 13, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is for a dedicated UX Researcher focused on enhancing user accessibility within the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) space, specifically for a Layer 1 (L1) blockchain network.

• The position requires a deep understanding of user behavior and a commitment to advocating for user-centric improvements across product development lifecycles.

• Key responsibilities involve designing and executing comprehensive user studies, analyzing research findings, and translating insights into actionable product and design decisions.

• The UX Researcher will collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and engineering teams to ensure user needs are met and to drive strategic product direction through research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided job description is for a UX Researcher, not a Revenue Operations, Sales Operations, or GTM role. Therefore, the enhancement will focus on UX Research best practices within a technology/blockchain context, rather than operations-specific metrics and processes. The location "EMEA" is very broad; further clarification would be needed for specific on-site expectations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and execute a range of qualitative and quantitative user research studies, including in-depth interviews, surveys, contextual inquiries, and usability testing sessions.

• Synthesize complex research data from various methodologies to identify key user pain points, unmet needs, and opportunities for product innovation.

• Translate research findings into compelling, actionable insights and recommendations for product strategy, design, and feature development.

• Act as a user advocate within cross-functional teams, effectively communicating user needs and research rationale to influence design and product decisions.

• Develop and refine research protocols, methodologies, and best practices to ensure rigorous and impactful research outcomes.

• Present research findings and strategic recommendations clearly and persuasively to diverse stakeholders, including product managers, designers, engineers, and executive leadership.

• Collaborate with product and design teams to define research objectives, target user segments, and key hypotheses for product testing.

• Contribute to the development of user personas, journey maps, and other artifacts that represent and communicate user understanding across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original role isn't operations-focused, these responsibilities are framed to highlight the impact on product development and strategic decision-making, which are critical for GTM alignment. The focus is on research synthesis and communication to inform business strategy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 2-5 years of professional experience as a UX Researcher, Product Researcher, or similar role, with a demonstrated track record of conducting impactful user research.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in a wide array of user research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, ethnographic studies, surveys, diary studies, card sorting, tree testing, usability testing, heuristic evaluations).

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to effectively interpret qualitative and quantitative data and derive actionable insights.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex research findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Proficiency in research tools and platforms for data collection, analysis, and synthesis (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Dovetail, Miro).

• Ability to define research plans, select appropriate methodologies, and manage research projects from inception to completion.

Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience within the blockchain, cryptocurrency, or DeFi industry, understanding its unique user base and challenges.

• Familiarity with L1 networks and the broader Web3 ecosystem.

• Experience with A/B testing and experimental design to validate product hypotheses.

• Knowledge of user-centered design principles and the product development lifecycle.

• Experience moderating remote and in-person research sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-5 years" experience level points to a mid-level researcher. The educational requirements are elevated due to the scientific rigor often expected in UX research, especially in specialized fields like blockchain. The preferred skills are tailored to the specific industry context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 distinct UX research projects that demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the research process.

• Each project should clearly outline the research problem, your role and responsibilities, the methodologies employed, key findings, and the impact of your research on product decisions or user experience.

• Evidence of how research insights directly influenced product strategy, design iterations, or business outcomes, ideally with quantifiable results.

• Demonstrations of your ability to handle ambiguity and adapt research methods to unique project constraints or industry-specific challenges.

Process Documentation:

• Clear documentation of your research process, including how you define research objectives, select participants, conduct studies, analyze data, and report findings.

• Examples of research planning documents, study protocols, and debriefing guides.

• Visualizations or summaries of research findings (e.g., affinity diagrams, journey maps, user personas, detailed reports).

• Case studies detailing how you navigated challenges in research execution or stakeholder communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Researcher, a portfolio is paramount. The emphasis here is on demonstrating a structured research process, the ability to translate findings into tangible impact, and effective communication of complex information. This aligns with the need for clear process documentation in any professional role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• For an on-site UX Researcher role in the EMEA region with 2-5 years of experience, a competitive salary range can be estimated between €55,000 - €85,000 annually, depending on the specific country within EMEA, the cost of living, and the company's compensation philosophy.

• Methodology: This estimate is based on aggregated salary data for UX Researchers in major European tech hubs (e.g., London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin) and adjusted for the broader EMEA designation. It considers the mid-level experience requirement and the specialized nature of blockchain/DeFi research.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage (medical, dental, vision).

• Generous paid time off (PTO), including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Retirement savings plan or pension contribution.

• Professional development budget for conferences, training, and certifications.

• Potential for stock options or equity, particularly in a growing foundation.

• Flexible working arrangements and potential for hybrid work models if approved by management.

• Employee assistance programs (EAP) and wellness initiatives.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, typically around 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility. The role is on-site, requiring presence in the designated EMEA location.

📝 Enhancement Note: A specific country within EMEA is not provided, making precise salary estimation challenging. The range provided is a broad estimate for a mid-level UX Researcher in a significant tech market within the region. Benefits are standard for tech roles, with specific additions relevant to a foundation or startup environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Blockchain Technology / Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

Company Size: Not explicitly stated, but "Hyphen Connect Limited" and "Blockchain Foundation" suggest a growing, potentially agile organization, likely in the startup or scale-up phase. This implies a dynamic, collaborative, and innovation-driven environment.

Founded: Not specified, but the focus on a "L1 network" suggests a company involved in core blockchain infrastructure development.

Team Structure:

• The UX Researcher will likely be part of a product or design team, reporting to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or a Research Manager.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers, UI/UX Designers, and Engineers, forming a core product development pod.

Methodology:

• The company likely employs agile development methodologies, requiring researchers to be adaptable and integrate findings quickly into iterative product cycles.

• A data-driven approach is essential, with an emphasis on user feedback and empirical evidence to guide strategic decisions.

• Expect a culture that values innovation, open communication, and a passion for decentralized technologies.

Company Website: hyphen-connect.com (Inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the company is a "Blockchain Foundation powering a L1 network," the culture is expected to be forward-thinking, technically adept, and potentially community-focused, common in the Web3 space. The size is inferred from the context of a foundation building core infrastructure.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level UX Researcher. This means the individual is expected to operate with a degree of autonomy, manage their own research projects, and contribute significantly to product strategy without constant direct supervision. They are beyond entry-level tasks and are expected to mentor junior researchers or interns if present.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will likely report to a senior leader within Product or Design, such as a Head of Product, Director of Design, or a Research Lead. This structure provides guidance and mentorship while allowing for independent execution of research.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role, the UX Researcher's impact is critical for the success of the L1 network and DeFi ecosystem. By ensuring user accessibility and understanding user needs, they directly contribute to:

• User Adoption: Making complex DeFi products easier to use drives adoption.

• Retention: Identifying and resolving usability issues improves user satisfaction and retention.

• Product-Market Fit: Validating features and understanding user preferences helps achieve and maintain product-market fit.

• Revenue Growth: Increased adoption and retention in DeFi protocols can lead to higher transaction volumes and protocol revenue.

• Brand Reputation: A positive user experience builds trust and a strong brand reputation in a competitive market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior UX Researcher/Lead: Progression to a senior individual contributor role, leading larger research initiatives, mentoring junior staff, and taking on more strategic research planning.

• Research Manager: Moving into a management role, building and leading a UX research team, defining research strategy for the entire product organization.

• Product Management: Transitioning into product management, leveraging deep user understanding and strategic thinking gained from research.

• Specialization: Developing deep expertise in specific areas of UX research, such as generative AI research, qualitative methods, or quantitative analysis within the blockchain domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Impact" section is reframed to explain how a UX Researcher's work contributes to business outcomes relevant to revenue and growth, bridging the gap to operations-adjacent thinking. Growth opportunities are typical for a mid-level researcher in a tech company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly stated as "On-site," implying a traditional office setting within the EMEA region. This environment is expected to foster collaboration and spontaneous interaction among team members.

Office Location(s): "EMEA" is a broad geographical region. Specific city or country details would be crucial for candidates to assess commute, cost of living, and local amenities. The company may have multiple offices or a central headquarters within this region.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The on-site nature suggests a workspace designed for team interaction, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional meetings. Expect open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated collaboration spaces.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and potentially specialized research equipment or software licenses provided by the company.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for daily face-to-face interaction with colleagues in product, design, and engineering, facilitating quick feedback loops and shared problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected. While on-site, there might be some flexibility in start and end times, but core hours will likely be established for team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The broad "EMEA" location is a significant point. For an on-site role, specific location details are vital for candidate decision-making. The description assumes a typical tech office environment conducive to collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, interest in the role and company, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the hiring manager (e.g., Head of Product/Design) to explore experience, research approach, and strategic thinking.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents 1-2 key research projects from their portfolio, detailing their process, findings, and impact. This is a critical stage for evaluating research skills and communication.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with team members from Product, Design, and Engineering to assess collaboration style, problem-solving abilities, and technical understanding.

• Take-Home Assignment (Optional): In some cases, a small research-related task or case study might be given to assess practical skills.

• Final Interview/VP Level: Potentially a final conversation with a senior leader to discuss strategic alignment and long-term fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentations as compelling stories. Clearly articulate the "why" (the problem), the "how" (your research process), the "what" (your findings), and the "so what" (the impact and recommendations).

• Showcase Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. Did your research lead to a measurable increase in conversion rates, a decrease in support tickets, or improved user satisfaction scores?

• Methodological Rigor: Be prepared to discuss why you chose specific research methods and how they were appropriate for the research questions and constraints.

• Your Role: Clearly define your specific contributions, especially if working in a team environment.

• Visuals: Use clear, concise visuals to support your presentation. Avoid text-heavy slides.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Synthesis: Be ready to discuss how you synthesize large amounts of qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights.

• Problem Framing: Practice framing research problems and defining clear research objectives.

• Stakeholder Buy-in: Prepare examples of how you've gained buy-in for your research recommendations from stakeholders who may have differing opinions.

• Blockchain/DeFi Context: If possible, familiarize yourself with common UX challenges in blockchain and DeFi (e.g., onboarding, security, transaction complexity, wallet management) and think about how you might research these areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured based on typical mid-level UX Researcher hiring practices. The portfolio review tips are crucial for candidates to excel. The preparation advice emphasizes not just research skills but also communication and strategic thinking relevant to the company's domain.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, UserZoom, Validately for remote usability testing and moderated/unmoderated sessions.

• Survey & Data Collection: Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Typeform for surveys and questionnaires.

• Analysis & Synthesis: Dovetail, NVivo, ATLAS.ti for qualitative data analysis; Excel, Google Sheets, R, Python for quantitative data analysis.

• Collaboration & Prototyping Tools: Miro, Mural for collaborative whiteboarding and affinity mapping; Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD for reviewing prototypes and mockups.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Mixpanel, Amplitude, Google Analytics (though less common for deep UX research, useful for understanding user flows).

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, Looker for presenting quantitative findings and dashboards.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly used by UX Researchers, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation tools might inform user segmentation or provide context for user behavior is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the typical software stack for a UX Researcher. The emphasis is on tools that facilitate data collection, analysis, synthesis, and communication of findings. Familiarity with these tools is essential for the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental commitment to understanding and prioritizing the user's needs and experience in all product decisions.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing empirical evidence and research findings over assumptions or personal opinions.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Openly sharing research plans, findings, and insights with the team and stakeholders to foster collective understanding and alignment.

• Impact & Agility: A focus on delivering research that has a tangible impact on product success and an ability to adapt research approaches to fast-paced development cycles.

• Innovation & Curiosity: A continuous drive to explore new research methods, understand emerging user behaviors, and contribute to cutting-edge solutions in the blockchain/DeFi space.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with Product Managers to define research questions, Designers to iterate on solutions, and Engineers to understand technical feasibility.

• Constructive Feedback: Engaging in respectful dialogue and providing constructive feedback on designs and product ideas based on user insights.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing learnings and best practices within the research and product teams to elevate the overall user experience competency.

• Advocacy: Championing the user's perspective in discussions and decisions, ensuring that user needs are not overlooked.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values are inferred to be common in a user-focused tech company, especially one in the innovative blockchain space. The emphasis is on how these values translate into daily work and collaboration for a UX Researcher.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Blockchain Complexity: Helping users understand and interact with complex blockchain concepts and DeFi protocols requires careful research into user education and intuitive design.

• Rapidly Evolving Landscape: The blockchain and DeFi space is constantly changing, requiring researchers to stay updated on new technologies, trends, and user behaviors.

• Data Scarcity/Bias: In niche or emerging markets, obtaining sufficient, representative user data can be challenging. Bias in early adopter groups needs careful management.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Gaining consensus and buy-in for research recommendations from diverse stakeholders with varying priorities and technical understanding.

• Measuring Long-Term Impact: Quantifying the precise impact of UX research on user adoption and protocol success in a decentralized ecosystem can be complex.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Blockchain/DeFi Research: Gaining deep expertise in the unique user challenges and opportunities within Web3.

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to learn and apply advanced qualitative and quantitative research techniques.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to blockchain technology, smart contracts, and decentralized application development.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Attending relevant UX and blockchain conferences, and pursuing certifications in research or specific technologies.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to be mentored by senior researchers or product leaders, or to mentor junior team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section highlights potential hurdles and opportunities specific to UX research in the blockchain/DeFi domain, offering a realistic outlook and pathways for professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time when your research findings significantly changed the direction of a product. What was the problem, your approach, the outcome, and the impact?" (Focus on your research process, data synthesis, and influencing skills).

• "How would you approach researching user onboarding for a new DeFi protocol? What methods would you prioritize and why?" (Assess your ability to frame research for specific challenges and select appropriate methodologies).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about blockchain technology and the DeFi space?" (Demonstrate genuine curiosity and understanding of the domain).

• "How do you see UX research contributing to the success of a L1 blockchain foundation?" (Align your understanding of UX impact with the company's goals).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Context is Key: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem and why it was important to solve.

• Focus on "You": Be specific about your contributions, the decisions you made, and the insights you uncovered.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, graphs, personas) to illustrate your points. For qualitative data, use impactful quotes.

• Impact & Outcomes: Dedicate significant time to explaining the tangible results of your research. If exact metrics are unavailable, describe the qualitative impact and how it informed strategy.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, analysis, and decision-making process.

📝 Enhancement Note: These questions and strategies are tailored to assess a UX Researcher's core competencies, domain interest, and ability to communicate effectively during the interview process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Preparation: Ensure your resume and portfolio are up-to-date. Select 1-2 projects that best showcase your end-to-end research process, your ability to synthesize complex data, and your impact on product decisions. Tailor your portfolio to highlight experience relevant to technology, finance, or user-centric product development.

• Resume Optimization: Highlight keywords related to UX research methodologies (e.g., usability testing, user interviews, surveys, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis), tools, and domain experience (blockchain, DeFi, fintech). Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Hyphen Connect Limited, its L1 network, and the broader DeFi landscape. Understand their mission, target audience, and potential user challenges. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, practice answering common UX research interview questions, and think about how you would approach research challenges specific to the blockchain/DeFi space.

⚠️ 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.