Founding Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Founding Product Designer

Company: Clera

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / Engineering

Date Posted: 2026-09-11

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Owns end-to-end product design for an early-stage B2B SaaS company focused on an agentic integration platform.

• Collaborates directly with the Chief Product Officer to shape product strategy and establish the foundational design language.

• Involves hands-on implementation of production frontend code using React and TypeScript, requiring direct shipping without engineer handoffs.

• Responsible for designing complex user experiences, including agentic UX for user-agent collaboration and platform UX for integration deployment and runtime monitoring.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is explicitly a "founding" position, implying significant influence on product direction, team building, and establishing core operational processes for design within the company. The emphasis on shipping production code directly by the designer is a critical differentiator, blending design ownership with front-end development responsibilities. This suggests a lean, agile startup environment where cross-functional execution is paramount.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design the user experience for agentic collaboration, where users and AI agents work together to build enterprise integrations.

• Develop the platform user interface, encompassing deployment workflows, runtime monitoring, observability dashboards, and log management for deployed integrations.

• Write and ship production-ready frontend code in React and TypeScript, taking designs from concept to deployment.

• Define and establish the company's design language, component system, and interaction patterns to ensure a consistent and scalable product.

• Partner closely with product leadership to inform and influence product strategy from the foundational stages of the company.

• Conduct user research and usability testing to validate design decisions and gather insights for iterative product improvement.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business requirements and translate them into effective user-centered design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a unique hybrid role blending traditional product design with front-end development execution. This isn't just about creating mockups; it's about building and shipping them. The responsibility to "establish the design language, component system, and interaction patterns" is a significant undertaking for a founding role, requiring foresight and a strong understanding of scalable design principles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent knowledge and practical application is essential.

Experience: 1 to 5 years of product design experience, with a proven track record of shipping products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in designing complex, technical B2B SaaS products.

• Proficiency in writing and shipping production frontend code using React and TypeScript.

• Strong command of high-fidelity design and prototyping tools, such as Figma or equivalent.

• Experience in establishing and maintaining design systems, component libraries, or design language standards.

• Proven ability in visual hierarchy, interaction design, and crafting compelling user experiences.

• Familiarity with agentic or human-computer interaction patterns. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing interfaces for observability, monitoring, or developer-facing platforms.

• Familiarity with AI or agent-based product interfaces.

• Understanding of enterprise integration platforms or similar complex workflow tools.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-intensity, in-person early-stage startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "shipping production frontend code in React and TypeScript" is a critical filter. This role is not for a designer who only hands off designs to engineers. It demands a dual skillset. The experience level is broad (1-5 years), suggesting they are open to exceptionally talented individuals early in their careers or those with more established experience who can hit the ground running.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least one significant project demonstrating end-to-end ownership of a product or complex feature, from initial concept through to shipped code.

• Include detailed case studies that highlight your process for designing agentic UX or complex technical platforms.

• Present examples of established design systems, component libraries, or design language guidelines you have created or significantly contributed to.

• Demonstrate proficiency in React and TypeScript through code samples or links to live applications you have contributed to.

• Clearly articulate the problem, your design process, your contributions (especially coding), and the impact of your work on user adoption or business metrics. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research, from planning and execution to synthesizing findings and integrating them into design decisions.

• Explain your methodology for establishing and evolving design systems, including component creation, documentation, and governance.

• Illustrate your workflow for translating technical requirements and complex logic into intuitive user interfaces.

• Describe your process for collaborating with product leadership and stakeholders to shape product strategy and roadmaps.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio must go beyond visual design. It needs to explicitly demonstrate the ability to code and ship production features. Case studies should emphasize the "design-it-and-ship-it" mentality, detailing the technical implementation alongside the design rationale. This is a key differentiator for operations candidates, showcasing their ability to execute.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 to $250,000 USD annually.

Benefits:

• Meaningful equity package, offering ownership in the company's success.

• Full health coverage, ensuring comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care.

• Visa sponsorship is available for eligible candidates.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, the role implies a full-time commitment (40 hours/week standard) with the expectation of high intensity and dedication typical of an early-stage startup.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a founding Product Designer role in San Francisco, reflecting the high demand for talent with both design and front-end coding skills. The inclusion of "meaningful equity" is a significant draw for early-stage roles, offering substantial upside potential. The explicit mention of visa sponsorship is crucial for attracting a diverse, global talent pool.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: B2B SaaS (Software as a Service), specifically focusing on agentic integration platforms. This industry is characterized by rapid innovation, a strong emphasis on technical capabilities, and a need for robust, scalable solutions.

Company Size: Early-stage startup. This implies a lean team, a fast-paced environment, and a high degree of individual responsibility and impact. Operations professionals in such settings often wear multiple hats and contribute to process definition.

Founded: Clera is an early-stage company, suggesting a dynamic and evolving culture. The emphasis on "high-intensity, in-person" points to a culture that values collaboration, rapid iteration, and a shared sense of mission.

Team Structure:

• The design team currently consists of this founding designer and reports directly to the Chief Product Officer.

• This role will be instrumental in defining the future design team structure and hiring process.

• Close collaboration is expected with product leadership and potentially early engineering hires. Methodology:

• Emphasis on end-to-end ownership: design, build, and ship.

• Focus on agentic UX and complex technical platform design.

• Agile development principles are likely core to the workflow.

• Data-driven decision-making, informed by user research and product analytics.

Company Website: https://www.getclera.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The "founding" nature of this role means the company culture is still being shaped. The explicit mention of "high-intensity, in-person" suggests a preference for collaborative, on-site work where rapid feedback loops and spontaneous problem-solving are prioritized. For operations professionals, this means a culture that values execution, adaptability, and direct contribution to product outcomes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Founding Product Designer. This is a highly influential role with significant autonomy and responsibility. It sits at the intersection of product strategy, user experience, and front-end development.

Reporting Structure: Directly reports to the Chief Product Officer (CPO). This provides direct access to executive leadership and a clear line of communication for strategic alignment.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and substantial impact on Clera's product direction, user acquisition, and customer retention. By owning design and shipping code, the designer directly influences the core product offering and its market perception.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to build and lead the design function as the company scales.

• Develop expertise in cutting-edge areas like agentic UX and AI-driven product interfaces.

• Gain deep experience in B2B SaaS product strategy and execution within a high-growth startup.

• Potential for significant career advancement and leadership roles as the company matures.

• Develop a strong portfolio with shipped code, enhancing marketability for future senior or lead design/engineering roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a founding member, the growth path is less about traditional hierarchical promotion and more about expanding scope, influence, and ownership. The individual will have the opportunity to define their own growth trajectory and shape the future of the design and product function at Clera.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in San Francisco, CA. This indicates a preference for a collaborative, in-person work environment conducive to rapid iteration and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): San Francisco, CA. This places the role in a major tech hub, offering access to a vibrant ecosystem of talent and resources.

Workspace Context:

• A fast-paced, high-intensity environment where rapid prototyping and iteration are key.

• Close proximity to leadership (CPO) fosters direct communication and quick decision-making.

• Opportunities for deep collaboration with product and potentially early engineering teams.

• Access to modern design and development tools is expected.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour week is typical, the "high-intensity" nature of an early-stage startup suggests that flexibility and commitment beyond standard hours may be required during critical project phases. The on-site requirement emphasizes in-person collaboration during core working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an "in-person early-stage environment" is a critical factor for candidates. This is not a remote-first or hybrid role; it requires daily presence in the San Francisco office. This environment is designed for maximum collaboration and rapid problem-solving.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess relevant experience, design craft, and coding proficiency.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A deep dive into selected projects, focusing on design process, problem-solving, technical contributions (React/TypeScript), and impact. Expect to discuss your role in establishing design systems and agentic UX.

• Technical Assessment: Potentially a live coding exercise or a detailed discussion of your front-end development experience and approach.

• Product Strategy Session: Discussion with the CPO and potentially other leadership about product vision, strategy, and how design can influence it.

• Culture Fit Interview: Assessment of alignment with the fast-paced, high-intensity, in-person startup culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your specific contributions (design and code), your process, and the measurable outcomes.

• Highlight Code: Explicitly showcase your React and TypeScript work. Provide links to live products, GitHub repositories (if applicable), or detailed descriptions of your coding contributions.

• Design System Focus: Dedicate a section or project to any design systems, component libraries, or design language standards you've established or heavily influenced.

• Agentic UX Examples: If possible, include projects that demonstrate experience with human-computer interaction, AI-assisted workflows, or complex technical interfaces.

• Be Prepared for Strategy: Demonstrate your ability to think strategically about product direction and how design can drive business objectives.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach designing the "agentic UX" and the "platform UX" described in the role.

• Prepare to articulate your strategy for establishing a design language and component system from scratch.

• Think about how you would balance hands-on coding with design leadership responsibilities in an early-stage environment.

• Research Clera's current (if any) product or market positioning to inform your discussions on strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize both design skills and coding ability. Candidates must be prepared to demonstrate tangible proof of shipping code and building foundational design assets. The "founding" aspect means they'll also assess strategic thinking and cultural fit for a high-growth startup.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (or equivalent high-fidelity tools like Sketch, Adobe XD).

• Frontend Development: React, TypeScript.

• Version Control: Git (likely via GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket).

• Code Editors: VS Code (or similar IDEs).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, expect to leverage product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

• Dashboarding tools may be used for monitoring key performance indicators. CRM & Automation:

• Less relevant for this direct design role, but understanding how design impacts user journeys within a CRM context could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of React and TypeScript is paramount. Proficiency in these technologies is not optional but a core requirement. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these tools in depth, including best practices for component-based development and type safety.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Execution & Ownership: A strong bias for action, taking full responsibility from concept to shipping.

• Craft & Quality: High standards for both design aesthetics and code quality.

• Collaboration: Intensive, in-person teamwork and direct communication.

• Innovation: Pushing boundaries in agentic UX and technical platform design.

• Impact: Driving tangible business outcomes through design and development.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, hands-on, and iterative, occurring primarily in person.

• Direct and frequent communication with the CPO and other team members.

• A culture of constructive feedback and rapid iteration based on shared understanding.

• Emphasis on shared responsibility for product success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "high-intensity, in-person early-stage environment" dictates a specific collaboration style. It's about being physically present, working closely, and moving quickly. Operations professionals should expect a culture that values direct contribution and immediate feedback.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing a comprehensive design system and language from scratch in a rapidly evolving product.

• Balancing the demands of hands-on coding with strategic design thinking and product roadmap influence.

• Navigating the inherent uncertainties and rapid pace of an early-stage startup.

• Defining and refining novel user experiences for agentic collaboration and complex technical platforms.

• Integrating AI/agentic capabilities seamlessly into a user-friendly interface. Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen expertise in agentic UX and human-computer interaction.

• Become a key contributor to the strategic direction of a B2B SaaS product.

• Gain invaluable experience in building and scaling a product and design function from the ground up.

• Develop advanced proficiency in React and TypeScript within a production environment.

• Potential to mentor future hires and shape the company's design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is the dual nature of the role – designer and developer. This requires exceptional time management, prioritization skills, and the ability to switch contexts rapidly. Growth opportunities are directly tied to the company's success and the individual's willingness to take on expanding responsibilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing the core agentic UX for users and coding agents to collaborate?" (Focus on process, interaction patterns, and potential challenges.)

• "Describe your strategy for building a design system and component library from the ground up for a new B2B SaaS product." (Discuss methodology, tooling, and governance.)

• "Given your dual role, how will you prioritize between hands-on coding and strategic design work?" (Assess time management and prioritization skills.)

• "What are your thoughts on the potential ethical considerations or user experience challenges with AI agents in enterprise integrations?" (Gauge critical thinking and foresight.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Clera's mission and the opportunity to be a founding designer?" (Assess genuine interest and alignment.)

• "How do you thrive in a fast-paced, high-intensity, in-person startup environment?" (Evaluate cultural fit and resilience.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with product leadership and engineers." (Understand teamwork preferences.)

• "How do you measure the success of your design and development work?" (Focus on impact and metrics.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Clearly delineate design phases from coding phases within each case study.

• Code Emphasis: Have readily accessible examples or detailed descriptions of your React/TypeScript contributions. Be prepared to discuss technical decisions.

• Design System Showcase: Dedicate time to walk through your design system work, explaining its components, patterns, and scalability.

• Storytelling: Frame your projects around the problem you solved, the solution you built (design and code), and the impact it had.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate deep questions about your technical implementation choices and design rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for candidates who can articulate a clear design process, demonstrate strong coding skills, and show strategic thinking about product development and company growth. The ability to communicate complex technical and design concepts clearly will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this founding product designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature your experience in React and TypeScript development, alongside your product design work. Highlight any experience with design systems or complex B2B SaaS products.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 1-5 years of experience, specifically mentioning shipped products, your coding proficiency (React/TypeScript), and any experience in establishing design standards. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on explaining your design process, technical contributions, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your approach to agentic UX and platform design.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Clera's mission, the B2B SaaS market, and the concept of agentic integration platforms. Understand the implications of an "early-stage, high-intensity, in-person" environment.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.