Senior UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher

Company: Shine

Location: Berlin, Germany; Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research

Date Posted: May 20, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead high-impact qualitative and quantitative research initiatives to inform strategic product decisions and drive customer-centricity within a fast-paced fintech environment.

• Champion a democratized research model by coaching and upskilling Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers in research methodologies, ensuring a high bar for evidence-based decision-making across the organization.

• Develop and maintain critical research infrastructure, including templates, playbooks, and an insights repository, in collaboration with the Research Operations specialist.

• Serve as a key quality reviewer and sparring partner for research activities across product teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement in research practices.

• Translate complex research findings into actionable recommendations that directly influence product strategy, roadmap discussions, and ultimately, business and revenue KPIs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a newly formed UX Research team at Shine, emphasizing the opportunity to build and shape research processes and infrastructure from the ground up. The "democratized research model" is a critical aspect, highlighting the need for a candidate who excels at enablement and mentorship, rather than solely conducting research independently. The focus on connecting research to business and revenue KPIs is a strong indicator of the expected impact and strategic importance of this role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead complex qualitative and quantitative research projects from initial discovery through synthesis and recommendation, focusing on ambiguous and strategic product questions.

• Design and execute a variety of research studies, including in-depth interviews, usability testing, diary studies, survey design, and higher-volume quantitative analyses.

• Actively coach and mentor Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers on research best practices, question design, and synthesis techniques to empower them to conduct effective research independently.

• Collaborate with the Research Operations specialist to build and maintain shared research assets such as standardized templates, comprehensive playbooks, a managed participant panel, and a centralized insights repository.

• Advocate for and embed a customer-centric culture throughout the organization by presenting research findings, influencing product reviews, and ensuring research insights are integrated into roadmap planning and decision-making processes.

• Act as a quality assurance and subject matter expert for research conducted by other teams, providing constructive feedback and guidance to maintain high standards without creating bottlenecks.

• Analyze data from tools like Mixpanel, Hotjar, and Typeform to identify trends, validate hypotheses, and uncover user pain points or opportunities.

• Contribute to the strategic direction of the UX Research function, helping to define its roadmap and operational processes as the team grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a blend of hands-on research leadership for high-impact initiatives and a significant focus on enablement and operationalization of research across product teams. The emphasis on "ambiguous, strategic product questions" suggests the need for a researcher who is comfortable navigating uncertainty and defining research agendas in novel areas.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for Senior UX Researcher roles.

Experience: 6+ years of progressive experience in UX research, product research, or a closely related field. Proven experience in a fast-paced product company, preferably within the fintech, SME, or B2B sector. Prior experience working within or helping to establish a democratized research model is highly desired.

Required Skills:

• Fluency in English (C1 level) for cross-functional communication.

• Fluency in German (C1 level) and/or French (C1 level) to conduct user interviews and research with target customer segments.

• Expertise in leading high-impact qualitative research methodologies (e.g., in-depth interviews, usability testing, diary studies, ethnographic research).

• Proficiency in quantitative research methodologies, including survey design, statistical analysis, and interpreting data from analytics platforms.

• Strong mixed-methods research capabilities, adept at integrating qualitative and quantitative findings for comprehensive insights.

• Demonstrated ability to connect research findings directly to business objectives and revenue KPIs.

• Natural mentoring and coaching skills, with a proven track record of upskilling colleagues in research practices.

• Ability to translate complex, ambiguous business problems into well-defined research questions and actionable insights.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence product decisions. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with research facilitation and analysis tools such as Marvin, Maze, Hotjar, Typeform, or similar platforms.

• Experience with AI tools (e.g., Claude) to enhance research efficiency and speed.

• Experience working with analytics platforms like Mixpanel for quantitative data analysis.

• Background in building and maintaining research infrastructure (e.g., participant panels, insights repositories, playbooks).

• Experience in a fintech, SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise), or B2B product environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The language requirements (German/French) are a critical differentiator for this role, indicating a need to directly engage with specific customer bases. The emphasis on "democratized research model" experience and mentoring capabilities highlights the enablement aspect of the position, which is crucial for a senior role in a new research team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 comprehensive case studies demonstrating experience in leading impactful qualitative and quantitative UX research projects from inception to completion.

• Each case study should clearly articulate the ambiguous problem statement, the research questions formulated, the methodologies employed (qualitative and quantitative), and the resulting insights.

• Demonstrate how your research directly influenced product strategy, design decisions, or business outcomes, with a clear emphasis on measurable impact (e.g., improvements in conversion rates, user satisfaction, revenue KPIs).

• Highlight your ability to work within or contribute to a democratized research framework, showing examples of how you enabled others to conduct research effectively.

• Include examples of research infrastructure you've helped build or maintain (e.g., templates, playbooks, participant management strategies). Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have documented research processes, from planning and recruitment to analysis and reporting, ensuring clarity and reproducibility.

• Showcase how you have created or utilized research playbooks and templates to standardize methodologies and improve efficiency across teams.

• Demonstrate your approach to synthesizing and storing research findings in a way that makes them easily accessible and actionable for product teams (e.g., insights repository examples).

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "democratized research model" and the role's responsibility in building infrastructure, the portfolio should strongly emphasize not just individual research impact, but also the candidate's ability to scale research practices and empower others. Case studies should explicitly detail how research insights were translated into tangible business value.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX Researcher with 6+ years of experience in a major European tech hub like Berlin or Amsterdam, and considering Shine's status as a fintech unicorn, the estimated salary range would be approximately €70,000 - €95,000 annually. This estimate is based on current market data for senior-level UX research positions in Western Europe, factoring in the specialized language skills (German/French) and the strategic nature of the role.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary package commensurate with experience and location.

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees and dependents.

• Generous paid time off (vacation, public holidays, sick leave) to promote work-life balance.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and access to learning resources.

• Stock options or equity participation, reflecting the company's growth stage and success.

• Pension/retirement savings plan contributions.

• Potential for hybrid work arrangements with 2 remote days per week.

• Access to modern office facilities in vibrant tech hubs like Berlin and Amsterdam.

• Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.

• Opportunities to contribute to a growing, international fintech company with a significant impact.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid work arrangement. While an in-office presence is expected 3 days a week, the remaining 2 days can be worked remotely, allowing for better integration of work and personal life.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on market research for comparable roles in Berlin and Amsterdam, considering the fintech industry and the seniority of the position. Benefits are typical for a European tech company of Shine's caliber. The hybrid arrangement is a key perk for balancing office collaboration and remote focus.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fintech, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Financial Services. Shine operates in the rapidly evolving fintech sector, providing essential financial tools for entrepreneurs and small businesses. As part of Cegid, it contributes to a broader ecosystem of financial software solutions.

Company Size: Shine is a "leading European fintech unicorn," and as part of Cegid, it collectively supports over one million small businesses and 15,000 accountants. This indicates a substantial, well-funded, and rapidly scaling organization with a significant market presence.

Founded: Shine was founded by serial entrepreneurs Rico Andersen and Martin Hegelund. Its acquisition by Cegid marks a significant milestone, integrating it into a larger, established European leader.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team is new and comprised of four members: two French researchers, one German Research Ops specialist, and the Head of UXR. This small, foundational team offers a unique opportunity to shape its direction.

• The Senior UX Researcher will work closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers within product trios, operating under a democratized research model.

• Collaboration extends across a multicultural team working from Denmark, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, contributing to a wider European network. Methodology:

• Shine emphasizes a "connected solution" for financial admin, suggesting a focus on integrated workflows and seamless user experiences.

• The company aims to "restore the joy of running a business" by eliminating manual admin, indicating a user-centric approach driven by solving real customer pain points.

• The "democratized research model" implies a data-driven culture where insights are widely shared and utilized, with researchers acting as enablers and quality controllers.

• As part of Cegid, Shine benefits from a larger organizational structure and established processes, likely influencing its operational methodologies.

Company Website: https://careers.shine.co

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of startup agility (being a unicorn, building from the ground up) and the stability of a larger enterprise (Cegid acquisition). The emphasis on "restoring the joy of running a business" and a "financial copilot" highlights a strong customer-centric mission, which is ideal for a UX Researcher.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position within the User Experience Research function. It signifies a leadership role responsible for driving high-impact research, mentoring junior team members, and influencing product strategy. It is a pivotal role in shaping the newly formed research team and its operational framework.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will report to Brigitte, the Head of UXR. They will work closely with various Product Trios (PM, Design, Engineering) across the organization, acting as a central point of expertise and support for research activities.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and significant impact on product development and business outcomes. By ensuring decisions are evidence-based, the Senior UX Researcher will help reduce product risk, improve user adoption, enhance customer satisfaction, and ultimately contribute to revenue growth by ensuring products meet the needs of entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to play a key role in scaling the UX Research function, potentially leading to future management or specialized research leadership roles as the team expands.

• Process Innovation: Chance to define and implement best practices for democratized research, research operations, and insights management within a growing organization.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods, AI-assisted research, and cross-functional enablement.

• Cross-functional Influence: Gain experience influencing product roadmaps and strategic decisions across a European fintech organization.

• Mentorship: Develop strong coaching and mentoring skills by upskilling PMs, designers, and engineers in research methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential beyond individual research contributions, focusing on building the research capability of the entire organization. The chance to shape a new team and its processes is a key differentiator for ambitious researchers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Shine operates with a hybrid work model, allowing for both in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. The offices in Berlin and Amsterdam are likely modern, tech-focused environments designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s):

• Berlin, Germany: A major European tech hub, offering a dynamic environment for fintech professionals.

• Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands: Another prominent European tech and business center with a strong international community. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a work environment that encourages close collaboration with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers within product teams. The hybrid model facilitates in-person brainstorming and strategic discussions, while remote days allow for focused work.

• Tools and Technology: Access to a range of research and analytics tools, including those mentioned in preferred skills (Marvin, Maze, Hotjar, Typeform, Mixpanel), and potentially AI tools for research acceleration. The company is actively building its research infrastructure.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with the core UX Research team (Brigitte, Research Ops specialist) for strategic alignment and operational support, as well as with product teams across different geographies.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement provides flexibility, allowing employees to balance in-office collaboration with focused remote work. This structure supports the demanding nature of research while promoting a healthy work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment is a significant aspect, requiring individuals who can effectively collaborate both in-person and remotely. The office locations in Berlin and Amsterdam are attractive to international talent.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• 1️⃣ Call with Talent Acquisition (45 min): Initial screening to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and company. Be prepared to discuss your motivation for applying to Shine and your understanding of their mission.

• 2️⃣ Interview with Hiring Manager (60 min): A deeper dive into your experience, research philosophy, and leadership capabilities. Expect questions about your approach to democratized research, mentoring, and handling strategic research challenges.

• 3️⃣ Business Case Presentation (1 hour): This is a hands-on opportunity to demonstrate your research skills. You will likely be given a product-related problem and asked to outline your approach to researching it, including methodologies, potential challenges, and how you'd synthesize findings. Prepare to present your strategy and answer questions about your thought process.

• 4️⃣ Team Introduction & Soft Skills Interview: Meet members of the product team and potentially other researchers. This interview will focus on personality assessments and how you align with Shine's culture and collaborative style, as well as how the company can best support your growth.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio with clear case studies that highlight the "problem, approach, results, and impact." For this role, emphasize how your research influenced decisions and drove business outcomes.

• Democratization Focus: Include examples of how you've enabled others to conduct research, shared insights effectively, or contributed to research infrastructure. This is crucial for the democratized model.

• Mixed-Methods Showcase: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative methods, and how you integrate them.

• Strategic Alignment: Clearly articulate how your research connected to business goals, product strategy, or revenue KPIs. Use data and metrics where possible.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio efficiently, focusing on the most relevant projects for this Senior UX Researcher role at Shine.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Strategy Outline: For the business case, be ready to quickly outline a research plan, including target users, key questions, suitable methods, and expected deliverables.

• Methodology Justification: Be able to explain why you chose specific research methods for a given problem and how they align with the business objectives.

• Insight Synthesis: Practice articulating how you would synthesize findings from multiple sources (qualitative interviews, quantitative data) into clear, actionable insights.

• Cross-functional Communication: Prepare to discuss how you would communicate your findings and recommendations to diverse stakeholders (PMs, designers, engineers, leadership).

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess both research acumen and the ability to operate within Shine's specific model (democratized research, hybrid work). The business case presentation is a key opportunity to showcase practical application of skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Marvin, Maze, Hotjar, and Typeform is preferred for conducting surveys, usability testing, and gathering user feedback.

• Analytics & Behavioral Tools: Experience with Mixpanel or similar product analytics platforms for quantitative analysis of user behavior and feature adoption.

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency in standard collaboration suites (e.g., Slack, Google Workspace, Confluence) for team communication and documentation.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Awareness of tools used by designers (e.g., Figma, Sketch) for context understanding and collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Mixpanel for tracking user journeys, feature usage, and conversion funnels.

• Data Visualization: Ability to interpret data presented in dashboards (potentially built with tools like Tableau, Looker, or within Mixpanel itself) and translate them into research insights.

• Survey Tools: Typeform or similar for designing and deploying quantitative surveys.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for UX Research, understanding how CRM data (e.g., from Salesforce, HubSpot) or customer feedback platforms might inform research questions could be beneficial.

• Experience with tools that facilitate user recruitment and panel management would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of specific tools like Mixpanel, Marvin, Maze, Hotjar, and Typeform indicates the company's current or desired technology stack for research and analytics. Proficiency in these, or similar tools, will be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A core value at Shine, driven by the mission to simplify financial admin for entrepreneurs. This means prioritizing user needs and understanding their challenges deeply.

• Evidence-Based Decision Making: The "democratized research model" strongly suggests a culture where decisions are informed by data and insights, rather than assumptions.

• Collaboration & Empowerment: Shine values working together across functions and empowering team members. The Senior UX Researcher is expected to embody this by upskilling others.

• Efficiency & Innovation: As a fintech unicorn, Shine likely values smart, efficient processes and innovative solutions to complex problems.

• Transparency & Respect: The company emphasizes a transparent and supportive hiring experience, which likely extends to its internal culture.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where UX Researchers work intimately with Product Managers and Designers within product trios, and also engage with engineering teams.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: The Senior UX Researcher will actively contribute to a culture of learning by coaching others. The team also values sharing research insights broadly.

• Feedback Exchange: A culture that encourages constructive feedback to improve both research quality and individual growth.

• Agile & Iterative: Given the fast-paced fintech environment and product development cycles, collaboration likely follows agile principles, with iterative feedback loops.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values highlight a blend of user focus, data-driven approaches, and strong interpersonal collaboration, essential for a role that acts as an enabler for research across the organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building from the Ground Up: As the UX Research team is new, a primary challenge will be establishing robust processes, tooling, and a consistent research culture across a growing organization still integrating its structure post-acquisition.

• Democratized Research Balance: Effectively enabling non-researchers to conduct quality research while maintaining a high overall standard and taking on complex strategic projects requires strong advocacy, clear guidelines, and continuous support.

• Cross-cultural & Cross-functional Communication: Working with diverse teams across different geographies and functional expertise (tech, product, finance) requires excellent communication and adaptation skills.

• Integrating Research into a Rapidly Scaling Fintech: Ensuring research insights keep pace with rapid product development and business growth in the dynamic fintech sector.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Shape the Research Function: Influence the direction and operational framework of the UX Research team at Shine.

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunity to explore and implement cutting-edge research techniques, potentially including AI-assisted research.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Develop strong leadership and coaching skills by empowering a broader group of individuals to conduct research.

• Fintech Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge of the financial technology landscape and the specific needs of entrepreneurs and small business owners.

• Cross-Continental Collaboration: Gain experience working in a multicultural, international environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth and impact, particularly in building foundational elements of the research function and navigating the complexities of a scaling, international company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a democratized research model within a product organization? What are the key success factors and potential pitfalls?"

• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders who were resistant to research findings. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?"

• "Imagine we're considering a new feature for our invoicing product. Outline your research plan, including methodologies, target users, and how you'd measure success."

• "How do you balance conducting high-impact strategic research with enabling others to conduct their own research effectively?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Shine's mission and its position in the fintech market?"

• "How do you see your role contributing to Shine's goal of restoring the joy of running a business for entrepreneurs?"

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product Managers and Designers. How do you ensure research is integrated seamlessly into the product development lifecycle?"

• "How would you foster a customer-centric culture across different departments at Shine?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your specific contribution, the insights derived, and the tangible impact on the product or business. Quantify results wherever possible.

• Highlight Enablement: Showcase examples where you've helped others conduct research, shared knowledge, or built scalable research processes.

• Demonstrate Mixed-Methods: Clearly show how you've combined qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a holistic understanding.

• Tell a Story: Frame your projects as narratives with clear beginnings (problem), middles (process), and ends (outcomes/impact).

• Address Language Skills: Be ready to discuss how your German/French fluency will be leveraged in user interviews and research execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just research skills, but also leadership, mentorship, strategic thinking, and an understanding of Shine's unique democratized research model and customer-centric mission.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position at Shine:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Shine careers page.

• Tailor your Resume: Emphasize your 6+ years of UX/product research experience, your proficiency in mixed-methods research, and any experience with democratized research models or team enablement. Highlight achievements related to influencing product strategy and business KPIs.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 strong case studies that best showcase your ability to lead impactful research, your mixed-methods expertise, and your success in driving business outcomes. Be ready to articulate your process and impact clearly.

• Prepare for the Business Case: Practice outlining a research strategy for a hypothetical product problem, focusing on methodology, user selection, and potential insights.

• Research Shine: Understand Shine's mission, its product offerings, its target audience (entrepreneurs/small business owners), and its position in the fintech market. Familiarize yourself with the company's values and culture as described in the job posting.

⚠️ 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.