UX Designer & Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer & Researcher

Company: Frends

Location: Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX Design & Research

Date Posted: 2026-05-25

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Own the end-to-end user experience (UX) for Frends iPaaS, a complex, globally utilized integration platform, from conceptualization to feature deployment.

• Drive interaction design for critical components such as automation pipelines, dashboards, and API tooling, tackling challenging and impactful design problems.

• Act as a key strategic partner within the R&D team, collaborating closely with product managers, developers, and leadership to shape product direction and priorities.

• Establish and grow the foundational UX research practice by conducting usability tests, gathering user feedback, and translating insights into actionable product improvements.

• Develop and maintain consistent UX standards and reusable design patterns that will ensure long-term product scalability and maintainability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-level individual contributor with significant ownership and the opportunity to shape the UX function. The emphasis is on a proactive, self-starting individual who can bridge design and research responsibilities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design process for new features and improvements across the Frends iPaaS platform, ensuring a user-centered approach from ideation through to final implementation.

• Create detailed interaction designs, wireframes, prototypes, and user flows for complex functionalities within the platform, such as automation pipeline configuration and data visualization dashboards.

• Initiate and execute user research activities, including user interviews, contextual inquiries, and usability testing sessions, to gather qualitative and quantitative data on user needs and pain points.

• Synthesize research findings into actionable insights and present them effectively to cross-functional teams, influencing product strategy and design decisions.

• Develop and champion UX best practices, contribute to and evolve the company's design system, and ensure consistent application of UI patterns and standards across the product.

• Collaborate closely with product management to define product requirements and user stories, ensuring that UX considerations are integrated early in the product development lifecycle.

• Work hand-in-hand with software engineers to ensure the accurate and high-fidelity implementation of designs, providing clear specifications and ongoing design support.

• Explore and integrate emerging technologies, such as AI, into the design process and product offering, identifying opportunities for innovation and enhanced user value.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of proactive UX ownership and hands-on design/research execution. The role requires someone who can not only design but also champion the user and establish research methodologies within the team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience in UX design and research is essential. A degree in HCI, Design, Computer Science, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in UX design and/or UX research, with a proven track record of designing complex digital products, preferably within B2B SaaS or enterprise software environments.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A compelling portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design process, complex workflow design, problem-solving abilities, and demonstrable user research experience.

• Interaction Design: Expertise in designing intuitive and efficient user interfaces for complex, data-heavy applications and multi-step workflows.

• UX Research: Proven experience conducting user interviews, usability testing, and other qualitative research methods to gather user insights.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design, enabling rapid iteration and clear communication.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication abilities, with the capacity to articulate design rationale and research findings clearly to diverse audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity in design challenges.

• User-Centricity: A deep-seated understanding of user-centered design principles and a passion for advocating for the user.

• English Fluency: Professional written and spoken English proficiency.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in enterprise SaaS or B2B technical product design.

• Experience with building or contributing to design systems.

• Familiarity with UX artifacts such as journey maps, personas, or service blueprints.

• Experience working in a small or scaling team environment where adaptability and self-direction are key.

• Curiosity and foundational understanding of AI's impact on design and user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio that demonstrates thinking process over just shipped features suggests that candidates should highlight their problem-solving approach and iterative design methods. The "2-5 years" experience level aligns with the expectation of someone who can own significant parts of the UX process and begin establishing research practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Process Showcase: Demonstrate a clear, structured approach to the entire UX lifecycle, from problem definition and user research to ideation, design, and iteration.

• Complexity Handling: Present case studies that illustrate your ability to design for complex, multi-step workflows, data-intensive interfaces, or technical tooling.

• Research Integration: Show how user research findings (interviews, usability tests) directly informed your design decisions and led to measurable improvements.

• Figma Work: Include examples of your Figma work, such as interactive prototypes, detailed wireframes, or UI explorations that highlight your design skills and attention to detail.

• Problem-Solving Narrative: Clearly articulate the user problem, your design strategy, the challenges encountered, and the final solution, focusing on the "why" behind your choices.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Illustrate your ability to map out and simplify complex user flows, ensuring efficiency and ease of use for technical users.

• Research Synthesis: Provide examples of how you've synthesized user research data into actionable insights and design recommendations.

• System Thinking: Showcase an understanding of how individual features and components fit into a larger system, and how to maintain consistency through design standards or a design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "owning the experience" and "establishing the early foundations of a UX research practice," the portfolio should actively demonstrate the candidate's ability to initiate and execute research, and translate those findings into tangible design improvements, rather than just showcasing polished UI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for mid-level UX Designers & Researchers in Espoo, Finland, and considering the hybrid work model and company growth, a competitive annual salary range would likely be between €50,000 - €70,000. This estimate considers the cost of living in the Helsinki metropolitan area and the specialized nature of designing for complex B2B SaaS platforms.

Benefits:

• Ownership Stake: A genuine opportunity to have a significant impact and influence on the direction and development of the UX practice.

• Flexible Working Times: Adaptable work schedules to promote work-life balance and accommodate individual needs.

• Hybrid Work Options: Flexibility to work remotely and from the modern Espoo office, fostering collaboration and personal well-being.

• Low Hierarchy Culture: An open and approachable organizational structure that encourages direct communication and reduces bureaucratic hurdles.

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Standard Finnish benefits likely include robust healthcare coverage, occupational health services, and potentially wellness stipends.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, training, and potential attendance at relevant industry conferences.

• Modern Tech Stack: Access to up-to-date tools and technologies to facilitate efficient and effective work.

Working Hours:

The standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, with a strong emphasis on flexibility. This allows individuals to manage their time effectively, balancing project needs with personal commitments, and accommodating the hybrid work model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on common compensation practices for similar roles in Finland's tech sector. The provided benefits are derived from the job description's explicit mentions and common offerings in the Finnish tech industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Frends operates in the Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) and automation sector, a rapidly growing segment of the enterprise software market focused on connecting disparate systems and automating business processes. This industry is characterized by technological innovation, a focus on efficiency, and increasing adoption of AI.

Company Size: Frends is a fast-growing company with operations in 16 countries. While not explicitly stated as "large," its international presence and ambitious growth trajectory suggest a company that is scaling significantly, moving beyond startup phase into a more established, yet agile, organizational structure. This means operations professionals can expect a dynamic environment with opportunities for impact but also the need for adaptability.

Founded: Frends was founded with the mission to simplify integrations and automation. Its history is rooted in providing a transparent and user-friendly platform, which informs its current focus on user experience and product development. The company's growth over the years indicates a strong product-market fit and a sustainable business model.

Team Structure:

• R&D Focus: The UX Designer & Researcher will be part of the Research & Development (R&D) team, indicating a strong emphasis on innovation and product advancement.

• Collaboration: Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers and Developers, forming a core product development pod.

• Reporting: The role reports to the Head of UX, who is committed to building a strong, forward-thinking UX practice. This suggests a supportive leadership structure focused on mentorship and strategic growth.

• Cross-functional Interaction: The position requires interaction with leadership, including the CTO, and potentially sales and customer success teams to gather broader market and user insights.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: The company values a user-centric approach, prioritizing understanding user needs and pain points to drive product decisions.

• Data-Informed Decisions: While not solely reliant on quantitative data, the company encourages the use of research insights and user feedback to inform design and product strategy.

• Agile Development: Implied by the R&D team structure and close collaboration with developers, the product development likely follows agile methodologies, requiring flexibility and iterative design.

• Continuous Improvement: The emphasis on establishing UX standards and a research practice points to a culture that values ongoing refinement and evolution of both the product and its internal processes.

Company Website: https://frends.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on iPaaS and automation means the UX challenges are often complex, involving technical users and intricate workflows. This requires designers to have a strong capacity for understanding technical concepts and designing for sophisticated user needs.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level UX Designer & Researcher (2-5 years of experience). It offers a significant degree of autonomy and ownership, moving beyond junior execution to strategic contribution. The candidate is expected to not only execute design tasks but also to proactively shape the UX practice and research methodologies within the company.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer & Researcher will report to the Head of UX. This provides a direct line to leadership focused on user experience, offering mentorship and guidance. The Head of UX is described as someone keen on building rather than just maintaining, suggesting opportunities for strategic input and development of the UX function.

Operations Impact: The UX team's impact is directly tied to the usability, efficiency, and adoption of the Frends iPaaS platform. By owning the end-to-end UX and establishing research practices, this role will significantly influence user satisfaction, product adoption, and ultimately, the company's success in a competitive market. The ability to translate complex integration challenges into simple, intuitive user experiences is critical for driving customer value and retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• UX Practice Leadership: As the company grows and the UX practice matures, there will be opportunities to take on more leadership responsibilities, potentially mentoring junior designers or leading specific UX initiatives.

• Specialization: The complex nature of the Frends platform allows for deep specialization in areas like workflow automation design, API interaction design, or data visualization UX.

• Research Foundation: The role provides a unique opportunity to build and formalize a UX research function from its early stages, gaining valuable experience in establishing research operations and methodologies.

• Cross-Functional Advancement: Experience in a fast-growing tech company with a low hierarchy can lead to broader opportunities within product management, design strategy, or even team leadership roles.

• Industry Expertise: Deepening expertise in iPaaS and B2B SaaS UX design will make the candidate highly valuable in a growing and critical technology sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "owning the experience" and "shaping the UX practice" suggests that career growth will be tied to the candidate's proactive contributions and their ability to drive the UX function forward, rather than solely following a predefined career ladder.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers hybrid work options, indicating a modern office environment designed for collaboration and focused work. While specific details about the Espoo office are not provided, it is likely equipped with meeting rooms, collaborative spaces, and individual workstations to support both remote and in-office employees. The preference for candidates to visit the office suggests a belief in the value of in-person interaction for brainstorming, team building, and key discussions.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is Tekniikantie 14, Espoo, Finland. Espoo is a major technology hub in Finland, offering a vibrant ecosystem for tech professionals. Proximity to this office is preferred, implying that while remote work is an option, regular on-site presence for certain activities is valued.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and the emphasis on close collaboration with product managers and developers suggest a workspace that encourages open communication and teamwork.

• Modern Tools & Technology: As a tech company, Frends likely provides access to the latest design and collaboration tools, including Figma, and potentially other platforms for project management and communication.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with the Head of UX, product teams, and developers will be integral to the role. This fosters a dynamic learning environment and allows for continuous feedback loops.

• Flexibility: The emphasis on flexible working times and hybrid options creates an environment that respects individual work styles and promotes well-being.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, but with a significant emphasis on flexibility. This means employees can often adjust their start and end times, and the hybrid model allows for a blend of remote and in-office work, catering to different needs and optimizing for productivity and work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preference for proximity to the Espoo office, coupled with hybrid flexibility, indicates a desire for a team that can leverage the benefits of both remote work and in-person collaboration. Candidates should be prepared for a blend of independent work and team-based activities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Discussions: Typically involves 3-4 conversations, including digital and live meetings.

• Key Stakeholders: You will meet with the People Integrator (HR/Recruiting), the CTO, and the Head of Design. This multi-stakeholder approach aims to assess technical fit, cultural alignment, and strategic thinking.

• Portfolio Review: A critical component where you will present your portfolio, discussing your design process, research methodologies, and problem-solving approach.

• Reference Checks: Standard practice to verify your professional experience and past performance.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Narrative Focus: Structure your portfolio around compelling stories. For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your approach, the key decisions you made, and the outcomes.

• Process Over Polish: While visually appealing designs are important, Frends emphasizes understanding how you think. Showcase your iterative process, your research methods, and how you arrived at your solutions. Include wireframes, user flows, research insights, and rationale behind your design choices.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work. This could include improvements in user satisfaction, task completion rates, efficiency gains, or adoption metrics.

• Tailor to Frends: Research Frends' product and industry. Highlight projects that demonstrate your experience with complex workflows, B2B SaaS, or technical user interfaces. Show your understanding of their challenges.

• Research Demonstration: Since research is a key part of this role, dedicate space to showcasing your research process, findings, and how you translated those into design improvements.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential design exercise or case study. This might involve analyzing a problem scenario related to the Frends platform and proposing a design solution, or discussing how you would approach a specific research question.

• Strategic Thinking: Focus on articulating your strategic thinking regarding UX within a growing B2B SaaS company. How would you prioritize initiatives? How would you measure success?

• Collaboration Scenarios: Think about how you would collaborate with product managers and developers, especially when there are differing opinions or constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on meeting the CTO and Head of Design indicates a high level of scrutiny on technical and strategic capabilities. The portfolio review is not just a presentation of work, but an in-depth discussion of your design philosophy and problem-solving methodology.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is a must.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has robust prototyping capabilities, familiarity with other specialized tools may be beneficial (e.g., InVision, Sketch – though Figma is primary).

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for remote usability testing, session recording, and survey distribution (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Slack, and Trello are standard in R&D environments for tracking tasks, documenting processes, and communicating.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Pendo to understand user behavior within the platform.

• Data Visualization: Ability to interpret data and potentially create simple visualizations to support research findings or design proposals.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: While not a direct tool for UX design, understanding how CRM systems (like Salesforce, HubSpot) integrate with platforms like Frends can provide valuable context for the types of integrations users manage.

• Frends iPaaS Platform: A strong understanding of Frends' own platform is crucial for designing within it effectively. This includes understanding its capabilities, limitations, and the typical use cases for its users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is Figma proficiency. Other tools are beneficial for demonstrating a broader understanding of the product development and user research ecosystem, particularly those that support data analysis and user feedback collection.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership & Proactivity: Taking initiative, driving projects forward, and feeling accountable for outcomes, especially in shaping the UX practice.

• Curiosity & Learning: A genuine desire to understand "why" users need things, to explore new technologies (like AI), and to continuously learn and adapt.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication, willingness to share ideas, and working effectively with cross-functional teams, embracing Frends' low-hierarchy culture.

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user's needs, ensuring that design decisions are grounded in user value.

• Efficiency & Pragmatism: A focus on delivering practical solutions and optimizing processes, not just for the user experience but also for the development and implementation phases.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively engaging with Product Managers to define requirements and with Developers to ensure faithful implementation.

• Feedback Culture: Open to giving and receiving constructive feedback on designs and research findings, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share insights from user research, design explorations, and best practices with the wider team to elevate the collective understanding of user needs.

• Agile & Iterative: Embracing a flexible approach to design and development, comfortable with iteration based on feedback and new information.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values, particularly "ownership," "curiosity," and "collaboration," are directly reflected in the job description's emphasis on shaping the UX practice and working closely with other teams. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate these qualities.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complexity: The core challenge lies in simplifying a complex, globally used integration platform for technical users, balancing power and usability.

• Establishing Research Practice: Building a formal UX research function from its early stages requires initiative, strategic planning, and the ability to influence team priorities.

• Ambiguity & Self-Direction: The role requires comfort with ambiguity and the ability to drive clarity and define processes without constant direction, especially in a scaling environment.

• Technical User Base: Catering to the needs and expectations of a technically savvy B2B audience requires a deep understanding of their workflows and technical context.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• UX Strategy & Leadership: Opportunity to grow into a more strategic role by shaping the UX vision and practice for a scaling SaaS company.

• iPaaS & Automation Domain Expertise: Developing deep knowledge in a critical and growing area of enterprise technology.

• AI in Design: Exploring the integration of AI into design tools and product features, staying at the forefront of industry trends.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Gaining experience in product management, technical collaboration, and contributing to business strategy through close interaction with other departments.

• Mentorship: Learning from a Head of UX who is focused on building and innovating, providing guidance on career development and UX best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth. The company is looking for someone who sees these complexities as exciting problems to solve and as avenues for personal and professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach understanding the core needs of Frends iPaaS users, given the platform's complexity and technical audience?" (Focus on research methodology, user segmentation, and prioritization.)

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a user-centered design decision that was met with resistance from stakeholders. How did you navigate that situation?" (Highlight communication, data-driven arguments, and negotiation skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Frends iPaaS as a product to design for, and what do you see as its biggest UX opportunities?" (Show you've researched the product and have initial thoughts.)

• "How do you see yourself contributing to and shaping our UX practice, given our current stage of growth?" (Address the "owning the experience" aspect and your proactive approach.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a high-level overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, dive into 2-3 key projects that best represent your skills for this role.

• Storytelling: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), the challenges, and the outcomes. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Research: Explicitly point out where and how user research informed your decisions. Show examples of research artifacts and your synthesis.

• Figma Mastery: Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflow, shortcuts, and how you leverage its features for efficiency and collaboration.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your design choices, your approach to ambiguity, and your understanding of the B2B SaaS landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss not only your design skills but also your strategic thinking about UX within a growing company and your ability to establish research practices. The interviewers will be looking for a candidate who can lead and innovate, not just execute.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer & Researcher position:

• Submit your application directly through the Frends careers website via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to specifically highlight projects involving complex workflows, B2B SaaS, or technical user interfaces. Emphasize your end-to-end UX process, including detailed examples of user research and how it influenced your design decisions.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience with Figma, user research methodologies (interviews, usability testing), interaction design for complex systems, and any experience in scaling or B2B environments. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and research findings. Be ready to discuss your approach to ambiguity, your understanding of user-centered design, and your enthusiasm for shaping a UX practice. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Frends, their iPaaS platform, and their target market. Understand their mission, values, and the challenges within the integration and automation space. This will enable you to ask insightful questions and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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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