Hopae
Head of Research
2w ago
EuropeHead
Lead and oversee research initiatives at Hopae, a digital identity platform company.
Responsibilities
- Digital identity is one of the most complex, fragmented, and consequential infrastructure problems in the world. As Head of Research at Hopae, you lead the team exploring what comes next — from government eID systems to hardware-based, in-person identification — and you 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.
- Define and own Hopae's research roadmap across two tracks: 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 to move from insight to implementation
- Monitor the global identity landscape — standards bodies, regulatory developments, emerging technologies, and competitive dynamics — and keep Hopae ahead of the curve
- 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 — positioning Hopae's expertise as a competitive differentiator
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, precedents are few, and the ability to create structure from ambiguity is essential
- Strong external presence — you've 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
Conditions
- Unlimited PTO
- Remote-friendly work model
- Real ownership from Day 1
- High-impact, global product
- Multicultural, respectful team
How to apply
- Recruiter Intro Call (30 min) – Get to know Hopae
- Functional or Technical Interview (45 min) – Dive into your skills
- Culture Fit Conversation (45 min) – Collaboration & alignment
- Offer 🎉
- Note: The process may vary slightly depending on the role.
Other
- At Hopae , we're building the world's most trusted digital identity platform — private, secure, and built for real life. We believe identity should be in your control — not locked behind outdated systems or centralized gatekeepers.
- Our product, Hopae Connect, lets businesses verify real people across borders through a single API — no need to build country-by-country integrations themselves. Our technology powers instant, privacy-first verification across fintech, credentials, supply chain, and gaming — for IDV providers, e-signature platforms, and enterprises who need identity to just work, everywhere.
- Backed by top global investors, Hopae operates across Seoul, Paris, Luxembourg, and San Francisco , bringing together exceptional talent from over 10 nationalities. We move fast, think globally, and build products that define the future of identity.
- Global DNA: Work with exceptional peers across Seoul, Paris, and San Francisco
- High Impact: Build technology shaping the global trust and identity landscape
- Ownership Culture: No micromanagement — full trust, full accountability
- Elite Standards: Work fast, learn fast, and grow with world-class peers
- Inclusive & Respectful: 10+ nationalities, diverse perspectives, one vision
- Growth Mindset: Access mentorship, leadership visibility, and continuous learning
- 💰 $6.5M+ raised from top global investors
- 📦 2.6M+ downloads of our sd-jwt-js library
- 🌍 10+ nationalities across 3 hubs
- 🔬 82 eID research projects completed
- 🌐 3 projects accepted into the OpenWallet Foundation