Head of Research

You will lead the team exploring what comes next in digital identity — from government eID systems to hardware-based, in-person identification — and translate that exploration into products and partnerships that matter. This is a leadership role with real scope: you'll set the research agenda, grow and lead a team, and sit at the intersection of technology, regulation, and product.

Responsibilities

• Define and own Hopae's research roadmap across eID and government identity systems globally, and hardware-based in-person identification solutions
• Lead, grow, and mentor a team of researchers — setting standards, creating focus, and building a culture of rigorous, outcome-oriented inquiry
• Translate research findings into actionable product direction — working closely with Engineering, Product, and Legal
• Monitor the global identity landscape — standards bodies, regulatory developments, emerging technologies, and competitive dynamics
• Represent Hopae externally in relevant industry forums, working groups, and standards organizations (including OpenWallet Foundation and eID authorities)
• Partner with Business Development to turn research assets into commercial opportunities

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in identity, digital trust, cryptography, or a closely related technical domain — with at least 3 years in a research leadership or team lead capacity
• Deep knowledge of eID ecosystems — government identity programs, standards (W3C, ISO, ETSI), and regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions
• Hands-on experience or strong familiarity with hardware-based identification technologies — NFC, biometrics, secure elements, or related domains
• A builder and a leader — you set the research direction, develop your team, and drive work from hypothesis to real-world applicability
• Comfortable operating at the frontier where requirements are unclear and precedents are few
• Strong external presence — engaged with standards bodies, published research, or represented an organization in industry forums
• Based in Luxembourg; fluent in English — additional European languages are a plus

Benefits

• Unlimited PTO
• Remote-friendly work model