Principal UX Researcher

About Kraken

‍As one of the largest and most trusted digital asset platforms globally, we are empowering people to experience the life-changing potential of crypto. Trusted by over 8 million consumer and pro traders, institutions, and authorities worldwide - our unique combination of products, services, and global expertise is helping tip the scales towards mass crypto adoption. But we’re only just getting started. We want to be pioneers in crypto and add value to the everyday lives of billions. Now is not the time to sit on the sidelines. Join us to bring crypto to the world.To ensure Kraken is the right fit for you, please ensure you read Kraken Culture Explained to find out more about us!

‍About The Role

‍We’re looking for experienced, well-rounded staff, senior staff and principal UX researchers to help us explore, understand and reinvent everything from the way money works to a bunch of even more ambitious things we can’t talk about yet — inquisitive, independent explorers who believe in a tomorrow where cryptocurrency spreads wealth inclusively and enables new forms of creativity.

We’re not building a bank. We’re building an adventure. One that requires people who aren’t afraid to cast aside established ways of doing things to create delightful, inclusive experiences for customers across 170+ countries.

Throughout the history of civilization, there have been a handful of moments that changed the course of how we think about wealth and equality. The discovery of gold, the creation of paper money, mortgages, ATMs. We’re at the next of those moments right now, and there is no more exciting place to invest your research skills than directly at this intersection of technology and adventure.

By joining the UX Research Team at Kraken you will play an important part in shaping the future of how the world sees and uses digital currency. UX research is fundamental in helping us understand how we can serve our clients needs and delight them along the way. By joining our team you will help to discover and define those needs and work cross-functionally to help teams to meet and exceed them.

We’re looking for UX researchers who are resolute about making sure their research makes a positive impact. Researchers who are experienced, well-rounded, passionate and meticulous.

The UX Research Team is a small team within a fast-paced company, so the ideal candidate will need to be comfortable to hit the ground running. We’re also a relatively new function, so you will play a part in shaping our team’s imprint.

‍What You’ll Do

• Use an extensive repertoire of exploratory and evaluative qualitative and quantitative research methods to help build a rich understanding of our clients and future clients
• Lead the way in identify the unbridged knowledge gaps, frictions and high-risk assumptions across different product areas and deliver research insight to speak to those
• Lead research initiatives and work closely with Design, Product and Marketing to ensure that we build things in intuitive, smart ways
• Strategically lead the development of standards, processes and guidelines that clarify expectations for the UX Research Team
• Mentor, influence and coach other researchers
• Collaborate cross-functionally using strong communication, written and facilitation skills to ensure the UX Research Team’s output empowers Krakenites and helps them to feel confident about their work
• Act as the voice of our clients and make sure that we’re constantly solving real problems for them while delivering high quality, delightful experiences
• Support Krakenites across multiple teams as a research partner, identifying where research can be most helpful, most impactful and where research is not the appropriate response to a problem
• Support Krakenites in self-serving to the point that they can conduct their own lightweight evaluative research while educating peers in research methodologies and helping to evangelise across the company
  

What We Look For

• Experience successfully leading UX research from end-to-end
• Broad in-depth professional experience as a UX researcher with a portfolio that demonstrates expansive past work experience and deliverables
• Ability to conceptualise, scope and execute research studies with speed, dexterity and scale, along with the ability to adapt quickly to change
• Ability to present and showcase findings and the value of UX research to the Design and Product teams along with the wider org
• Strong grasp of User-Centered Design principles
• Strong passion for Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency movement with a desire to make the best trading platform in the world
• Ability to receive constructive criticism and use it to improve the end result
• Informed about current and emerging trends in crypto, FinTech, product development, trends in UX research and design
• Be a team player, take initiative and ownership of responsibilities and deliverables
• Excellent communicator (verbal and written), presentation, interpersonal and analytical skills; requires the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and persuasively across different audiences and varying levels of the organisation
• Ability to manage ambiguity, work autonomously, and multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Understand and incorporate complex technical and business requirements into research
• Background in cognitive science, behavioural economics, anthropology, sociology or psychology nice-to-have but by no means essential
  

You should apply if

• You’re passionate about creating best-in-class products and services that play a key role in shaping the future of how the world sees and uses digital currency
• You’re passionate about advocating for users
• You’ve used research to make a demonstrably positive impact on the direction of features, products and services in the past
• You know how to balance robust study design and research rigour with the characteristics of a fast-paced environment
• You only close a project when you know that your research has helped the team you’re supporting to make better, more informed decisions
• You're comfortable contextualising and prioritising insights for stakeholders and you love brining insights to life with compelling research reports and presentations
• You understand the importance of setting up research in a collaborative, democratising way so that teams can join in with the process
• You’re well versed in choosing the research method that best answers the question
• You are concerned with building accessible products and services and know how to design research studies that supports this
• You know how to bring together different sources of insight – such as analytics data – to provide a rounded picture of the subject under observation
  

Location Tagging: #EU #USWe’re powered by people from around the world with their own unique and diverse experiences. We value all Krakenites and their talents, contributions, and perspectives, regardless of their background. We encourage you to apply for roles where you don't fully meet the listed requirements, especially if you're passionate or knowledgable about crypto!

As an equal opportunity employer we don’t tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind. Whether that’s based on race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, citizenship, religion, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state or local laws.