UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher

Company: Certara (Chemaxon)

Location: Budapest, Hungary

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Development Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-13

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on understanding how scientists, who are the users of complex B2B software tools, interact with and utilize these products, with a strong emphasis on bridging scientific domain knowledge with UX research methodologies.

• The position involves defining, planning, and conducting a variety of user research activities, from user interviews and usability testing to journey mapping and competitor analysis, to gather actionable insights for product improvement.

• A key aspect is synthesizing both qualitative and quantitative research findings into clear, impactful insights that drive product strategy and enhance user experience within an agile development environment.

• The role also entails advocating for and fostering a research-driven culture throughout the organization, leveraging AI tools to enhance research efficiency and deepen user understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description emphasizes a unique hiring approach: prioritizing domain expertise (science/cheminformatics) and coachability over existing UX credentials. This suggests a strong focus on individuals who can quickly learn and apply UX research principles within a scientific context, rather than solely experienced UX professionals. The role is situated within the Chemaxon division of Certara, specializing in cheminformatics software for drug discovery, highlighting the B2B and scientific nature of the product.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Research Plan Development: Define clear research objectives and scope in collaboration with product owners, domain specialists, and stakeholders to align with business goals and product strategy.

• Methodology Design: Select and tailor appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, surveys, card sorting, persona development, user journey mapping, co-creation workshops) based on research questions and project needs.

• Participant Recruitment & Management: Plan and execute participant recruitment strategies to ensure representation from the target user base (scientists) and manage research logistics.

• Research Execution: Conduct diverse research activities, including in-depth user interviews, rigorous usability testing sessions, competitor analysis, and user journey mapping exercises.

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Analyze and synthesize both qualitative and quantitative research data to identify key user needs, pain points, behaviors, and opportunities for product enhancement.

• Insight Communication: Clearly and effectively communicate research findings, insights, and recommendations to cross-functional teams (product, design, engineering) and broader stakeholders through compelling presentations and reports.

• Culture Advocacy: Champion a research-informed culture across the company by sharing insights, educating teams on UX principles, and promoting user-centric decision-making.

• Tool Utilization: Leverage AI tools to streamline research processes, from data analysis and synthesis to generating custom research instruments and prototypes.

• Agile Collaboration: Integrate seamlessly into agile product teams, providing timely research support and contributing to sprint planning and product roadmap discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of traditional UX research tasks with a specific emphasis on scientific domain understanding and the application of AI tools. The expectation to "advocate a research-based culture" suggests a proactive and influential role, requiring strong communication and influencing skills beyond just reporting findings. The mention of "horizontal UX operational tasks" indicates potential involvement in improving the UX team's processes and tools.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While formal UX research education is not a primary requirement, a background in a scientific discipline (e.g., Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceuticals, or related fields) is highly valued due to the domain-specific nature of the product.

• A degree in a related field such as Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related social science is beneficial if combined with relevant experience. Experience:

• For Scientists Transitioning to UX: Demonstrated experience in conducting scientific research, data analysis, problem-solving, and a strong aptitude for learning new methodologies. Proven ability to understand complex technical concepts and communicate them clearly.

• For Experienced UX Researchers: Proven track record of successfully planning and conducting user research for complex B2B software products, ideally in data-intensive or scientific domains. Minimum of 2-5 years of direct UX research experience.

Required Skills:

• Domain Knowledge/Aptitude: Willingness and ability to learn and understand scientific concepts related to cheminformatics and drug discovery.

• Research Methodologies: Proficiency in a broad range of user research methods, including qualitative (e.g., interviews, usability testing, contextual inquiry) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, analytics review) techniques.

• Analytical & Synthesis Skills: Ability to analyze and synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights and clear recommendations.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate research findings effectively to diverse audiences, including technical stakeholders.

• Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively within cross-functional product teams, with product owners, designers, engineers, and domain specialists.

• Agile Mindset: Basic understanding of agile development processes and the ability to work within iterative development cycles.

• English Proficiency: Highly proficient in spoken and written English.

Preferred Skills:

• AI Tool Proficiency: Experience using AI tools for research tasks such as data analysis, synthesis, content generation, or prototyping.

• Cheminformatics/Life Sciences Background: Direct experience or deep understanding of the cheminformatics or broader life sciences industry.

• User Journey Mapping: Experience in creating and utilizing user journey maps to visualize user experiences.

• Persona Development: Ability to develop detailed user personas based on research data.

• Mentoring/Teaching: Experience in teaching, mentoring, or guiding others in research practices or scientific concepts.

• B2B Software Experience: Prior experience researching complex B2B enterprise software.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "ideal candidate" profile emphasizes "domain expertise plus curiosity and coachability," significantly lowering the barrier for scientists transitioning into UX. The experience level is framed as "2-5 years," suggesting a mid-level role that can accommodate both emerging UX professionals with strong scientific backgrounds and established UX researchers interested in a specialized domain. The requirement for English proficiency is highlighted due to the international nature of the company and its client base.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Research Case Studies: Demonstrate your ability to conduct end-to-end UX research projects. Each case study should clearly outline the problem, your research approach, methodologies used, key findings, and the impact of your research on product decisions or user experience improvements.

• Methodology Showcase: Include examples that highlight your diverse research skill set, such as detailed usability test reports, user interview transcripts (anonymized), user journey maps, or competitive analysis frameworks.

• Insight Synthesis Examples: Provide clear examples of how you translated raw research data (qualitative and quantitative) into actionable insights and concrete recommendations for product teams.

• Impact Demonstration: Quantify the impact of your research whenever possible (e.g., improvements in task completion rates, reduction in user errors, increased user satisfaction metrics). If direct quantification is not possible, describe the qualitative impact and how your insights influenced design or strategy.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning Documentation: Showcase examples of well-defined research plans, including objectives, hypotheses, target participant profiles, chosen methodologies, and timelines.

• Data Analysis & Synthesis Frameworks: Illustrate your approach to analyzing and synthesizing research data, which could include affinity diagrams, thematic analysis summaries, or quantitative data summaries.

• Reporting & Communication Artifacts: Provide examples of how you communicate research findings, such as slide decks, executive summaries, or interactive dashboards, tailored for different audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on transitioning scientists, a portfolio might be more flexible, potentially accepting strong academic research projects or scientific reports that demonstrate analytical rigor and clear communication, alongside traditional UX case studies. The key is to showcase the ability to define problems, gather evidence, analyze findings, and communicate conclusions effectively.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for UX Researchers with 2-5 years of experience in Budapest, Hungary, the estimated annual gross salary range is between €40,000 - €60,000.

• This estimate considers the cost of living in Budapest, the specific industry (software/biotech/pharma tech), and the hybrid work arrangement. It also factors in the unique hiring profile that values domain expertise and coachability, which might influence compensation. Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Arrangement: Flexibility to work from home up to 8 days per month, combined with in-office collaboration.

• Private Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage through Medicover.

• Fitness Club Membership: Daily access to Life1 Fitness Clubs.

• Professional Development: Generous annual training budget for off-site training, international conferences, and learning resources (e.g., e-books).

• English Language Support: Opportunities for English lessons.

• Innovation & Learning: Participation in yearly user conferences with social programs and dedicated innovation days.

• Work Environment: Access to leisure and recreation areas, including a children's play corner.

• Global Exposure: Opportunity to work with global Top500 companies and leading academic institutions.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, estimated at 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is a professional estimation based on market data for Budapest and the specified experience level and role type. It's crucial to note that actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific background, negotiation, and the company's internal compensation structure. The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting a commitment to employee well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Services, Life Sciences Technology. Certara operates at the intersection of technology and life sciences, providing biosimulation software and services to accelerate drug discovery and development. Chemaxon, its division, specializes in cheminformatics software.

Company Size: Certara is a significant player in its field, indicating a medium to large enterprise structure with established processes and a global reach. The UX team within Chemaxon is described as eight members, suggesting a focused, collaborative unit within a larger organization.

Founded: Certara was founded in 2004, and Chemaxon has over 20 years of experience in cheminformatics. This history suggests a stable company with deep expertise and a mature approach to its product offerings.

Team Structure:

• The UX team consists of eight members, with a mix of UX researchers and UX designers.

• Team members spend significant time embedded in cross-functional product teams, collaborating closely with product owners, developers, and domain specialists.

• There's also dedicated time for horizontal UX operational tasks, suggesting a focus on improving the team's processes, tools, and overall UX maturity across the organization.

• The team actively uses AI tools for various aspects of their workflow, indicating a forward-thinking and technologically adept environment. Methodology:

• Agile Development: The company operates within an agile development framework, requiring seamless integration of research activities into iterative product cycles.

• User-Centric Design: A strong emphasis is placed on understanding the user (scientists) and integrating their feedback into product development.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Research insights are intended to directly inform product strategy and design decisions.

• AI Integration: Proactive use of AI tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in UX research processes.

Company Website: https://careers.certara.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is described as "agile, innovative, and friendly," with opportunities for "frequent collaboration and cross-training." The acquisition by Certara signifies a period of growth and integration, offering exciting opportunities for employees. The company's focus on biosimulation and cheminformatics positions it as a leader in a critical scientific field.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level UX Researcher, suitable for individuals with 2-5 years of experience or those with strong scientific domain expertise looking to transition. It offers a significant opportunity to specialize in UX research within the complex and impactful domain of scientific software for drug discovery.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will likely report to a UX Lead or Manager within the Chemaxon division, while working closely with Product Owners and cross-functional product teams. The "horizontal UX operational tasks" suggest potential involvement in shaping team processes and standards.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's work will have a direct and significant impact on the usability and effectiveness of critical cheminformatics software used by scientists globally. By understanding user needs and behaviors, the role directly contributes to Certara's mission of accelerating drug discovery and development, thereby impacting patient outcomes. The research findings will influence product roadmaps, feature development, and overall user satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Domain Specialization: Deepen expertise in cheminformatics, biosimulation, and the scientific software industry, becoming a subject matter expert in user research for this niche.

• UX Skill Advancement: Develop advanced UX research skills, including mastering new methodologies, leveraging AI for research, and refining synthesis and communication techniques.

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to mentor junior researchers or designers, lead research initiatives, and contribute to the strategic direction of UX within Chemaxon and Certara.

• Cross-functional Influence: Gain experience influencing product strategy and development across multiple product lines and teams.

• Career Progression: Potential to move into senior UX Researcher roles, UX Lead positions, or even management roles within the UX or product development organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The unique hiring profile for scientists opens a distinct career path into UX research. For experienced UX researchers, it offers a chance to apply their skills in a highly specialized and impactful scientific domain, moving beyond general B2B software. The emphasis on AI tools also presents an opportunity to become proficient in cutting-edge research technologies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Budapest, Hungary, at the Váci Greens Office Park, and offers a hybrid work arrangement. This suggests a modern office environment designed to support collaboration and productivity.

Office Location(s): Budapest, Váci Greens Office Park. This location likely offers good accessibility and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Hybrid Model: Employees are expected to work from the office 8 days per month, allowing for a balance between in-person collaboration and remote flexibility.

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely includes areas designed for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional work, essential for agile product teams.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern office technology and the company's established software stack, including AI tools for research.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for interaction with the UX team and broader product development teams, fostering a supportive and dynamic work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (estimated 40 hours/week) with a hybrid arrangement, allowing for flexibility in managing work and personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is clearly defined, requiring a commitment to in-office presence for collaborative activities. The Váci Greens Office Park is a known business hub, suggesting a professional and well-equipped workspace.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, CV, and potentially a portfolio, with a focus on identifying relevant domain expertise or transferable research skills, and assessing coachability.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion about your background, motivations for transitioning into UX research (if applicable), understanding of the role, and initial assessment of communication and collaboration skills.

• Technical/Skills Interview: This may involve a case study or a discussion about your approach to research problems. For those transitioning from science, this could focus on how you've applied research methodologies in your scientific work. For experienced UX researchers, it will delve deeper into specific UX research techniques and past project successes.

• Team/Cross-functional Interview: An opportunity to meet with members of the UX team and product development team. This assesses cultural fit, collaboration style, and how you might integrate into existing teams.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader, focusing on strategic thinking, long-term fit, and final alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tailor Your Presentation: If transitioning from science, highlight projects that demonstrate strong analytical skills, problem definition, data interpretation, and clear communication of findings. Explain how these skills translate to UX research.

• Showcase Your Process: For each case study, clearly articulate your thought process: why you chose specific methods, how you analyzed data, and how you arrived at actionable insights.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data to demonstrate the positive outcomes of your research. If direct quantification isn't feasible, clearly explain the qualitative impact and how your work influenced decisions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Provide examples of how you worked with stakeholders, designers, and engineers.

• Address AI Tool Usage: If you have experience using AI tools in research, be prepared to discuss specific examples and the benefits you observed.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Scenario: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical research problem related to the chemical drawing tool or a similar scientific software.

• Methodology Justification: Be ready to explain why you would choose certain research methods for specific questions and how you would adapt them.

• Insight Articulation: Practice articulating complex findings simply and persuasively, focusing on actionable recommendations.

• Company & Product Research: Understand Certara's mission, Chemaxon's products, and the challenges faced by scientists using such tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to accommodate the unique hiring strategy. For candidates transitioning from science, the emphasis will be on their potential and transferable skills. For experienced UX researchers, the focus will be on their established expertise and how it applies to this specific domain.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote usability testing, surveys, and participant management (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, SurveyMonkey).

• Prototyping Tools: While not a design role, familiarity with tools used for creating prototypes for testing is beneficial (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).

• AI Research Tools: The job explicitly mentions using AI tools for various research stages, including custom tool creation, prototyping, data analysis, synthesis, and pattern finding. Specific AI tools are not listed, but candidates should be open to exploring and utilizing emerging AI technologies in research.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Software: Tools for analyzing qualitative data (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and quantitative data (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets, statistical software like R or SPSS if applicable).

• Visualization Tools: Potentially tools for creating charts and graphs to present quantitative findings (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or built-in features of other platforms).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly involved in CRM management, an understanding of how user feedback and research findings integrate with product development workflows, which may be managed through tools like Jira or similar project management software, is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI tools as part of the everyday workflow is a significant differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience or willingness to learn and integrate AI into their research practices. Familiarity with tools commonly used in agile software development environments is also a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity & Coachability: A strong emphasis on continuous learning and openness to guidance, particularly for those transitioning into UX research.

• Scientific Rigor: Applying a methodical and evidence-based approach to research, akin to scientific inquiry.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively within cross-functional teams and fostering a supportive environment within the UX team.

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the needs of the end-users (scientists).

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies, like AI, and creative approaches to research and problem-solving.

• Impact-Driven: Focusing on research that leads to tangible improvements in product usability and user satisfaction.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamlessly embedded within product teams, working closely with product managers, designers, and engineers on a daily basis.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent sharing of research findings, insights, and challenges.

• Feedback Culture: Valuing constructive feedback for continuous improvement of research processes and outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in sharing best practices and learnings within the UX team and across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is characterized by a blend of scientific discipline and agile innovation. The emphasis on coachability and learning is particularly important for candidates without a traditional UX background. The team values a proactive, collaborative, and user-focused approach.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Domain Expertise: For those transitioning from science, the primary challenge will be acquiring and applying UX research methodologies effectively, while for experienced UX researchers, it will be quickly gaining sufficient domain knowledge in cheminformatics.

• Complex User Base: Understanding the nuanced needs and workflows of scientists, who are highly specialized users of complex software.

• Integrating AI in Research: Effectively leveraging AI tools to enhance research efficiency without compromising the quality or ethical considerations of user insights.

• Advocating for Research: Continuously educating and influencing stakeholders across the organization to prioritize and act upon research findings.

• Navigating Growth: Adapting to potential changes and integrations as part of Certara's broader business strategy.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Structured Onboarding: A specific program designed to facilitate the transition into UX research for scientific professionals.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced UX researchers and designers within the team.

• Training Budget: Access to external training, conferences, and resources to deepen UX research skills and potentially scientific domain knowledge.

• AI Tool Exploration: Hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI tools for research, positioning the candidate at the forefront of UX innovation.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining a deep understanding of the product development lifecycle and contributing to strategic product decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents a unique opportunity to tackle complex challenges in a specialized scientific domain, with robust support for skill development. The integration of AI is a key area for both challenge and growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to learn a complex new subject quickly to be effective in a project. How did you approach it?" (For scientists transitioning, this assesses learning agility; for UX researchers, it assesses adaptability.)

• "How would you approach researching the usability of a chemical drawing tool for experienced chemists? What methods would you prioritize and why?" (Assesses research planning and methodology selection.)

• "Imagine you've found conflicting insights from qualitative and quantitative research. How would you reconcile them and present a cohesive recommendation?" (Tests analytical and synthesis skills.)

• "How do you ensure your research findings translate into actionable product changes?" (Focuses on impact and communication of insights.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Certara and Chemaxon's mission in biosimulation and cheminformatics?" (Assesses alignment with company goals.)

• "How do you see yourself contributing to fostering a research-based culture within a product team?" (Evaluates advocacy and influence potential.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration with product managers, designers, and engineers." (Gauges teamwork and cross-functional fit.)

• "How do you approach working in an agile development environment?" (Assesses understanding of agile processes.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as narratives. Clearly define the problem, your role, your process, the challenges encountered, your solutions, and the ultimate impact.

• Focus on Process: For each example, walk through your methodology step-by-step. Explain why you chose certain methods and how they helped answer your research questions.

• Visuals: Use clear visuals (e.g., screenshots of research artifacts, journey maps, personas, key data visualizations) to illustrate your points.

• Quantify & Qualify: Be prepared to discuss both the numbers (metrics, task success rates) and the qualitative insights (user quotes, observed behaviors) that emerged from your research.

• AI Tool Integration: If applicable, highlight how you've used AI tools in your research process and the specific benefits achieved.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating both research acumen and a genuine interest in the scientific domain. For scientists, emphasize transferable skills and eagerness to learn UX. For UX researchers, highlight adaptability and ability to dive into new technical areas.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the Certara careers portal, ensuring your CV highlights relevant scientific experience or UX research achievements.

• Portfolio Customization: If you have a portfolio, tailor its presentation to emphasize projects that showcase analytical rigor, problem-solving, and clear communication of findings, especially if transitioning from a scientific background. For experienced UXers, focus on B2B or complex software case studies.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your experience with research methodologies, data analysis, and collaboration. For scientists, explicitly mention transferable skills like hypothesis testing, experimental design, and data interpretation.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process, insights, and their impact. Prepare examples that demonstrate your curiosity, coachability, and ability to learn complex subjects. Research Certara's mission and Chemaxon's products.

• Company Research: Understand Certara's role in biosimulation and drug development, and Chemaxon's position in cheminformatics. Familiarize yourself with the challenges scientists face when using software tools in these fields.

⚠️ 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.