Founding Designer (UI/UX)

Founding Designer (UI/UX)Location: San Francisco, California, USA (in-office)Salary: $120,000–$180,000 base + 0.1–0.2% equityExperience: 3+ years of professional design experiencePositions available: 1Working hours: On-site, 9-9-6 schedule, five days a weekStart date: ImmediateAbout the CompanyJoin a seed-stage applied AI and creativity lab in San Francisco building a new generation of AI-powered video creation tools. The company is developing a Mac application that combines prompt-driven video creation with thousands of AI models, web search, motion graphics and video editing, all running on the user's own GPU.Backed by a founding team with two previous exits in consumer technology and media, the company is building an ambitious product at the intersection of AI, design and creative expression.The RoleAs the Founding Designer, you will own the product's core UI/UX and visual design from concept to implementation. You'll shape the entire creative experience, establishing the design standards and product principles that allow the company to scale without requiring founder approval for every screen.The central challenge is to make AI-powered video creation intuitive without limiting creative freedom. You'll design an experience that combines the flexibility of an open-ended prompt interface with enough guidance and structure to help new users get started, without turning the product into a rigid, template-driven editor. Working directly with the founder and engineering team, you'll move quickly from ideas to shipped product, with same-day design-to-development cycles.This is a genuine founding opportunity with the potential to grow into a Head of Product role as the company scales.Key ResponsibilitiesOwn the end-to-end UI/UX design of the core video creation experience.Design intuitive user journeys, interfaces and interactions for AI-powered creative workflows.Establish the product's visual identity, including colour, typography, texture, shadows, motion and overall design language.Balance open-ended creative freedom with guided experiences that help users understand the product and get results.Create original, high-quality screens and flows from scratch rather than relying on templates.Work directly with engineers to communicate design decisions and ship improvements rapidly.Use session recordings, user journeys, engagement metrics and drop-off data to validate design decisions.Identify friction in the user experience and continuously improve onboarding, creation flows and retention.Set and maintain the product's visual and emotional quality standards.Collaborate closely with the founder to shape the product vision and influence broader product strategy.RequirementsAt least three years of professional UI/UX, product design or equivalent hands-on design experience after completing your education. Internships do not count towards this requirement.A strong portfolio demonstrating original screens, interactions and user flows designed from scratch for shipped products.Excellent visual design skills and a distinctive sense of taste, with the ability to explain design decisions in concrete terms.Experience designing intuitive, polished user experiences for complex or creative products.A data-informed approach to design, including using session replays, user behaviour and drop-off metrics to improve experiences.The ability to work directly with engineers and take designs from initial concept through implementation.A proactive, hands-on mindset and the ability to work independently in a fast-moving startup environment.Genuine interest in AI tools, video creation, motion graphics or digital creative workflows.Availability to work in the San Francisco office five days a week, following a demanding 9-9-6 schedule.Particularly relevant backgrounds include designers from AI-powered creation tools, generative AI products, video editing software and other creative applications. Experience with products such as Lovable, Replit, Bolt, Canva or similar tools is valuable.An active presence as a creator on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram or Reddit is a plus. Candidates who personally create content or regularly use creative AI tools are especially encouraged to apply.What's on Offer?Competitive base salary of $120,000–$180,000.Equity participation of 0.1–0.2%.A true founding design role with ownership of the entire user experience.Direct collaboration with the founder and engineering team.The opportunity to define the design language and quality standards of a new AI product.Fast design-to-development cycles and the ability to see your work reach users quickly.A potential progression into a Head of Product position.The opportunity to shape the future of AI-powered video creation.Interview ProcessProfile review: The company reviews your experience and portfolio.Initial screening: A conversation about your design approach, creative interests and fit for the role.Work trial: A practical assessment of your design craft and problem-solving abilities.Important InformationThis role requires working in person in San Francisco five days a week, following a 9-9-6 schedule.Visa sponsorship is limited. Eligible candidates may include US citizens, green card holders, F-1 OPT holders and candidates with existing H-1B or O-1 status that can be transferred. New visa petitions are not feasible within the required timeframe.Interested in shaping the creative experience of a new AI video platform from day one? Apply now with your portfolio and examples of your work.