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: 2026-09-05

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a foundational role for a Product Designer with a strong technical aptitude, focusing on end-to-end design ownership for an early-stage B2B SaaS integration platform.

• The position emphasizes a unique blend of Product Design, UX/UI development, and direct Frontend implementation using React and TypeScript.

• Key responsibilities include defining the design language and establishing foundational UX patterns for both human-AI agent collaboration and the platform's operational aspects.

• Success in this role requires a keen eye for craft and taste, directly influencing the user experience for technical enterprise teams interacting with AI agents.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is explicitly for a "Founding Product Designer," indicating a critical, early-stage contribution. The emphasis on "implementing production frontend directly in React and TypeScript, with no handoffs" suggests a highly integrated design and development function, common in startups where individuals wear multiple hats. The target audience being "technical enterprise teams" and the product being an "agentic integration platform" points towards a need for expertise in complex, data-dense interfaces.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and architect the user experience for human-AI agent collaboration within the integration platform, focusing on intuitive workflows for building and managing enterprise integrations.

• Develop the user interface and user experience for the platform's operational components, including deployment management, runtime monitoring, observability dashboards, and log analysis, drawing inspiration from modern developer tools.

• Implement production-ready frontend code using React and TypeScript, directly translating design concepts into functional UI elements and features without traditional handoff processes.

• Establish and document the comprehensive design system, visual identity, and core UX patterns that will serve as the foundation for all future product and brand development.

• Collaborate closely with the Chief Product Officer (CPO) to ensure design vision aligns with product strategy and company objectives, influencing brand perception alongside product functionality.

• Own the brand's visual identity from conception through to its manifestation in the shipped user interface, ensuring consistency and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility of "implementing and shipping production frontend directly in React and TypeScript, with no handoffs" is a significant deviation from typical product design roles. This implies a need for strong full-stack design capabilities or a willingness to operate at the intersection of design and development. The mention of "agentic UX" and inspiration from tools like Vercel or Railway suggests a focus on developer experience (DevEx) within a complex SaaS environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio showcasing exceptional design craft and taste is paramount. A background in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, or a related field would be beneficial.

Experience: 1 to 5 years of dedicated product design experience, with a proven track record of shipping high-quality, impactful digital products.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Demonstrated ability to conceptualize, design, and deliver end-to-end user experiences for complex applications.

• Frontend Implementation: Proficiency in building production-ready interfaces using React and TypeScript.

• UX/UI Design: Expertise in creating intuitive, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, particularly for technical audiences.

• Design Systems: Experience in creating and maintaining design languages, style guides, and component libraries.

• B2B SaaS Design: Familiarity with designing for technical B2B audiences, understanding their workflows and pain points.

• Figma: Advanced proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design.

• Tailwind CSS: Experience utilizing Tailwind CSS for efficient and responsive UI development.

Preferred Skills:

• Agentic UX/HCI: Familiarity or experience with designing for human-computer interaction patterns involving AI agents or advanced automation.

• Developer Tools Design: Experience designing platforms or tools specifically for developers (e.g., IDEs, CI/CD platforms, cloud infrastructure tools).

• Brand Design: Experience in developing and implementing visual identities for early-stage companies.

• Observability & Monitoring Tools: Understanding of concepts related to system observability, logging, and performance monitoring interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for direct frontend implementation in React and TypeScript is a critical differentiator for this role. Candidates must not only be skilled designers but also capable developers. The "1 to 5 years" experience range suggests they are looking for someone who can be autonomous but might still benefit from mentorship, or perhaps they are open to a more junior candidate with exceptional raw talent for a "founding" role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 significant shipped products or features, demonstrating end-to-end design ownership from concept to launch.

• Include case studies that detail the problem statement, design process, user research, iteration, and final shipped solution.

• Highlight projects that involved complex technical interfaces, data visualization, or workflows for enterprise/developer audiences.

• Demonstrate proficiency in both UI design craft and UX problem-solving, with clear articulation of design decisions.

• For this role, explicitly include examples of your work implementing frontend code (e.g., links to live projects, GitHub repositories, or detailed code snippets demonstrating React/TypeScript usage). Process Documentation:

• Present case studies that clearly outline your design process, emphasizing user-centered methodologies, iteration, and collaboration.

• For projects involving frontend implementation, detail your approach to translating design into code, including any component library or design system contributions.

• Be prepared to discuss how you establish and scale design systems and patterns within a product development lifecycle.

• Articulate your experience with integrating design into agile development workflows, particularly in a startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "implementing production frontend directly" means the portfolio must go beyond static mockups. Candidates should be prepared to showcase their coding capabilities, either through live examples, well-documented code repositories, or detailed explanations of their frontend development process and contributions. This is a crucial aspect for evaluating candidates for this specific "founding" role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

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

Benefits:

• Visa sponsorship is available, indicating support for international candidates.

• As a founding team member, the role likely includes equity options (though not explicitly stated, this is a common startup benefit).

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.

• Exposure to cutting-edge AI and integration platform technologies.

Working Hours: The role is described as being in a "fast-paced, high-intensity, in-person early-stage environment," suggesting standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) with the expectation of dedication and potential for extended hours during critical project phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a mid-level to senior Product Designer with frontend development skills in San Francisco. The inclusion of visa sponsorship is a significant benefit for candidates requiring it. While equity isn't explicitly mentioned, it's a standard offering for founding team members in early-stage startups and should be a point of discussion during the interview process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: B2B SaaS (Software as a Service), specifically focusing on AI-powered integration platforms for enterprise technical teams. The company is building a "mini-cloud" for integrations.

Company Size: Early-stage startup. This implies a lean, agile team where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: Clera is an early-stage company, likely founded within the last 1-3 years, aiming to disrupt the enterprise integration market with AI.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design function is currently nascent, with this role being the "founding" designer.

• You will report directly to the Chief Product Officer (CPO), working in close collaboration.

• The team is expected to be small and highly cross-functional, with close interaction between design, product, and engineering.

• Expect a flat hierarchy and direct communication channels with leadership. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Decisions are expected to be informed by user research, analytics, and technical feasibility, with a focus on measurable outcomes.

• Agile Development: A fast-paced, iterative approach to product development, requiring flexibility and rapid adaptation.

• AI-Centric Innovation: The core of the product involves leveraging AI agents for complex tasks, requiring an understanding of human-AI interaction patterns.

• Direct Implementation: A culture where designers are empowered to build and ship their work directly, fostering ownership and speed.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: As a "founding" designer, the candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping not just the product's interface but also the company's design culture and processes. The close collaboration with the CPO and the direct implementation requirement suggest a hands-on, entrepreneurial spirit is highly valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Founding Product Designer," indicating a senior individual contributor role with significant autonomy and influence. It's a critical, early-stage position that offers the chance to build a function from the ground up.

Reporting Structure: You will report directly to the Chief Product Officer (CPO). This provides direct access to leadership and a clear line of sight into strategic product decisions.

Operations Impact: Your work will directly shape the core user experience of Clera's integration platform. This includes the critical interface where technical users interact with AI agents to build and manage integrations, as well as the platform's operational dashboards. Your design decisions will directly influence user adoption, efficiency, and the overall perception of the product's sophistication and usability.

Growth Opportunities:

• Build and Lead: Opportunity to build out the design function as the company scales, potentially leading a team of designers in the future.

• Deep Technical Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge in AI-driven UX, integration platforms, and developer tooling, becoming an expert in a cutting-edge field.

• Strategic Influence: Gain significant experience in product strategy and company building, working closely with founders and C-suite executives.

• Skill Expansion: Broaden expertise beyond traditional UI/UX to include direct frontend development, enhancing your versatility and marketability.

• Equity Participation: As a founding member, there is a high likelihood of significant equity grants, offering substantial financial upside as the company grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "founding" nature of this role implies rapid growth potential and significant impact. The candidate is not just joining a team but helping to define its future. The dual nature of design and development offers a unique career trajectory for individuals looking to expand their skill set beyond pure design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly "On-site in San Francisco, CA," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This is common for early-stage startups prioritizing close collaboration and rapid iteration.

Office Location(s): San Francisco, California, United States. This places the designer within a major tech hub, offering access to a vibrant ecosystem of talent and innovation.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect an open, dynamic workspace designed to foster close collaboration between design, product, and engineering teams.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design and development tools, including Figma and a robust frontend stack (React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS).

• Startup Pace: The environment will be fast-paced, high-intensity, and demanding, requiring adaptability and a proactive approach.

• Direct Interaction: Frequent interaction with leadership (CPO) and engineering teams, facilitating rapid feedback loops and decision-making.

Work Schedule: While the standard is likely 40 hours per week, the "high-intensity" nature of an early-stage startup suggests flexibility and a willingness to go the extra mile when needed, especially during critical development phases. The on-site requirement ensures immediate availability for team syncs and spontaneous problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement is crucial for this early-stage role, emphasizing the company's value for in-person collaboration, rapid prototyping, and quick decision-making. This environment is best suited for individuals who thrive in hands-on, highly interactive settings.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Deep Dive: A session with the CPO and potentially an engineer to review your portfolio, focusing on shipped work, design process, and specific examples of React/TypeScript implementation. Be prepared to discuss your approach to complex technical design and human-AI interaction.

• Design Challenge (Potential): A take-home assignment or an in-person whiteboarding session to assess your problem-solving skills, design approach, and ability to translate requirements into tangible solutions, potentially involving code.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with other team members (e.g., engineering leads) to evaluate collaboration style and technical understanding.

• Founder/CEO Interview: A final discussion to assess alignment with the company's vision, mission, and long-term goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Go beyond static screens. Include interactive prototypes or links to live applications where possible.

• Highlight Frontend Skills: For this role, explicitly showcase your React/TypeScript work. This could be through code snippets, GitHub links, or detailed case studies on implementing your designs.

• Structure Your Case Studies: Clearly outline the problem, your process, challenges, solutions, and measurable outcomes. For this role, emphasize how your design decisions were implemented in code and the impact of that implementation.

• Focus on Craft and Taste: Demonstrate a high level of polish, attention to detail, and a strong visual aesthetic.

• Context is Key: Explain the "why" behind your design decisions, especially concerning the technical audience and AI agent interaction.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Research Clera, its mission, and the B2B SaaS integration platform space. Understand the concept of "agentic UX."

• Technical Aptitude: Be ready to discuss common frontend development patterns, UI frameworks (React, Tailwind CSS), and potentially basic architectural concepts.

• Problem-Solving: Practice breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable components, and articulating a structured approach to designing solutions.

• Demonstrate Adaptability: Show you can work effectively in a fast-paced, evolving startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes the candidate's ability to not only design but also implement. The portfolio review will be a critical gate, requiring tangible evidence of frontend development skills alongside design expertise. Candidates should prepare to discuss their code and its direct relationship to their design work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool. Mastery is expected for creating interfaces, components, and design systems.

• React: The primary frontend JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Proficiency is essential for implementation.

• TypeScript: Used for static typing in React applications, enhancing code quality and maintainability. Essential for production frontend work.

• Tailwind CSS: A utility-first CSS framework for rapidly building custom user interfaces. Familiarity is a natural fit for the stack.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, expect to work with analytics tools to track user behavior and feature adoption. Candidates should be familiar with integrating design with data to inform iterations.

• Tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude might be used. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the Product Designer role, but understanding how the product integrates with enterprise systems and potentially CRM platforms would be beneficial context. Other Potential Tools:

• Version control systems like Git and platforms like GitHub or GitLab for code management.

• Project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana) for tracking design and development tasks.

• Storytelling and presentation tools for communicating design concepts and outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is clearly defined: Figma for design, and React/TypeScript/Tailwind CSS for frontend implementation. Candidates must be proficient in these specific tools. The absence of explicit mentions for analytics tools suggests that while data informs design, the primary focus is on the design and development output itself.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship & Taste: A commitment to high-quality design and a strong aesthetic sensibility is paramount, as this role sets the visual and interaction standards.

• Execution & Ownership: A proactive, "get-it-done" attitude, with a willingness to take ownership of tasks from conception through to implementation and shipping.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and close working relationships with product and engineering teams are vital for rapid iteration and alignment.

• Innovation & Problem-Solving: A drive to tackle complex challenges, particularly those involving AI and technical integrations, and to find elegant, effective solutions.

• Pace & Agility: Thriving in a fast-moving startup environment, adapting quickly to changing priorities and market demands.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Design-Engineering: A seamless workflow where design and engineering work hand-in-hand, with designers contributing code and engineers understanding design principles.

• Direct Feedback Loops: Frequent and open communication channels with the CPO and engineering team to ensure alignment and rapid iteration.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working closely with product management and engineering to define features, prioritize tasks, and ensure successful product delivery.

• Mentorship & Learning: A culture that encourages knowledge sharing and mutual learning, especially given the founding nature of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values lean heavily towards a hands-on, execution-focused culture common in early-stage startups. The emphasis on "craft and taste" combined with "execution and ownership" highlights the expectation for high-quality output delivered autonomously.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building from Scratch: Establishing the entire design language, UX patterns, and design system for a new product and company. This requires foresight and strategic thinking.

• Bridging Design and Development: Effectively managing the dual responsibility of designing complex interfaces and implementing them in production code, requiring a broad skill set.

• Defining Novel UX: Pioneering user experiences for human-AI agent collaboration, a relatively new and evolving field.

• Startup Environment: Navigating the inherent uncertainties, rapid pace, and high expectations of an early-stage startup.

• Technical Complexity: Designing for sophisticated B2B enterprise users and complex technical integrations demands deep understanding and precision.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Become an AI UX Pioneer: Gain deep expertise in designing for AI-driven workflows and human-AI collaboration.

• Master Frontend Development: Enhance and solidify skills in React and TypeScript within a production environment.

• Shape Product Strategy: Contribute directly to product roadmap decisions and strategic planning alongside leadership.

• Build a Design Function: Lay the groundwork for Clera's future design team and processes.

• Equity Growth: Potential for significant financial reward through equity as the company scales and achieves success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge and growth opportunity lie in the "founding" aspect of the role. The candidate will be instrumental in shaping the product and the design function, offering immense learning and impact potential but also requiring a high degree of self-direction and resilience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing the core interface for human-AI collaboration in an integration platform? What are the key UX considerations?" (Focus on articulating your process, user needs, and how you'd incorporate AI agent feedback.)

• "Describe a time you had to implement a complex UI component using React and TypeScript. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?" (Prepare a specific example showcasing your coding skills.)

• "Given our goal of creating a 'mini-cloud' for integrations, what are the most critical aspects of the platform's operational UX (deployments, observability, logs) that we need to get right?" (Demonstrate understanding of developer tooling and infrastructure platforms.)

• "How do you balance user experience needs with technical constraints and implementation realities, especially when you're the one doing both?" (Showcase your pragmatic approach to design and development.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Clera and this specific 'founding designer' role, particularly the blend of design and development?" (Articulate your motivation, alignment with the mission, and enthusiasm for the dual role.)

• "How do you approach establishing a design language and system from scratch?" (Detail your methodology and strategic thinking.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration dynamic with a CPO and engineering team in a fast-paced startup." (Highlight your communication, teamwork, and adaptability.)

• "What are your thoughts on the future of AI in enterprise software and integration platforms?" (Showcase your industry awareness and forward-thinking perspective.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Lead with Impact: Start with your most relevant and impressive shipped projects, particularly those demonstrating your frontend implementation skills.

• Code Integration: Clearly present how your designs were translated into code. Use GitHub links, code snippets, or detailed explanations of your development process.

• Tell a Story: Frame each case study as a narrative – problem, your unique approach, challenges, solutions, and quantifiable results.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your design decisions, technical implementation choices, and trade-offs made.

• Showcase Craft: Ensure your presentation is visually polished and reflects the high standard of taste you bring to design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on the intersection of design and development. Candidates need to be ready to "code-switch" between discussing design principles and technical implementation details, backing up both with concrete examples from their portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that showcase end-to-end design ownership, with a specific emphasis on those involving React/TypeScript implementation. Prepare detailed case studies for each.

• Optimize Your Resume: Highlight experience relevant to B2B SaaS, technical product design, frontend development (React, TypeScript), and working in startup environments. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Pitch: Practice articulating your design process, your frontend development capabilities, and your understanding of Clera's mission and product. Be ready to walk through your portfolio and discuss your contributions in detail.

• Research Clera: Understand their product, target market (technical enterprise teams), and the concept of agentic integration platforms. Familiarize yourself with their existing online presence and any news or announcements.

⚠️ 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.