Founding Design Engineer

datacurve· Engineering
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📍 San FranciscoFullTime

About this role

Shipd is our gamified data collection platform that transforms boring annotation into an addictive, competitive experience. With quests, bounties, and leaderboards, Shipd attracts the best contributors for complex data tasks -- and now we need a Founding Design Engineer to take our current platform and turn it into a polished, scalable system.

What You’ll Do

  • Build design systems: Create custom design systems and reusable UI components that support many data formats and workflows.

  • Own the Quest Builder: Engineer multi-step agent workflows and UI generation that make setup fast, consistent, and scalable.

  • Tackle complex UX challenges: Design for 6+ hour coding sessions, competitive programming culture, and real-time telemetry.

  • Ship gamification features: Build leaderboards, streaks, bounties, and community mechanics that drive engagement.

  • Engineer developer tooling interfaces: Extend VS Code forks, browser extensions, and trace viewers with performant, developer native-feeling UI/UX.

  • Ship without handoffs: Combine design + engineering to move fast, iterate, and polish.

You’ll Succeed Here If You Have

  • Proven track record building 0→1 products and design systems from scratch.

  • Background in developer tools, gamification platforms, or complex marketplaces.

  • Ability to think like both a designer and an engineer—balancing aesthetics, interaction, and performance.

  • A founding mentality: scrappy, equity-motivated, excited to work hard to build something lasting.

Characteristics We’re Looking For

  • Hybrid thinker: part game designer, part engineer.

  • Obsession with functional complexity, not just pretty UI.

  • Curiosity about developer psychology and how to motivate at scale.

  • Thrives in ambiguity; ships fast without waiting for process.

Nice to Have

  • Experience with VS Code extensions, IDE plugins, or browser extensions.

  • Familiarity with marketplace/community dynamics.

  • Exposure to gamification design or engagement psychology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the salary disclosed for the Founding Design Engineer position at datacurve?
The salary for this Founding Design Engineer role at datacurve is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Founding Design Engineer position at datacurve located?
This Founding Design Engineer role at datacurve is based in San Francisco. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Founding Design Engineer role at datacurve full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a FullTime position. It is posted as a Founding Design Engineer role in the Engineering department at datacurve.
Which team or department does the Founding Design Engineer at datacurve belong to?
This Founding Design Engineer position is part of the Engineering department at datacurve. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Founding Design Engineer position at datacurve?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to datacurve's official application portal hosted on ashby where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Founding Design Engineer job at datacurve posted?
This Founding Design Engineer position at datacurve was posted on Oct 9, 2025. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Founding Design Engineer
datacurve
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