Founding Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Founding Product Designer

Company: SketchPro

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / GTM Enablement

Date Posted: November 3, 2026

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

Remote Status: Fully In-Person

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a critical founding role focused on defining and designing the user experience for SketchPro's AI copilot, specifically tailored for construction documentation, design review, and team collaboration.

• The position requires a hands-on product designer to create the core visual language, component library, and interaction patterns that will shape how architects and engineers leverage AI in their daily workflows.

• The role involves a significant amount of user research and validation, directly engaging with in-house architects and engineers, as well as customer firms to deeply understand and address their documentation and coordination challenges.

• As the sole designer, this individual will have a substantial impact on the product's direction and success, requiring strong ownership, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate complex needs into intuitive design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Product Designer," its responsibilities within a founding team, especially concerning the definition of core workflows and user interaction with a novel AI tool, align with aspects of GTM enablement by shaping the initial product experience that drives adoption and value realization. The emphasis on user research and direct customer engagement also points to a strategic GTM function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• User-Centric AI Interface Design: Design intuitive interfaces and workflows that enable architects and engineers to effectively guide AI, review generated construction documentation, and foster seamless team collaboration.

• Visual Language & Design System Development: Establish and maintain a consistent visual language, create reusable components, and define interaction patterns that form the foundation of SketchPro's product design system.

• Prototyping & User Validation: Develop high-fidelity prototypes and conduct iterative user testing with internal architects and engineers, as well as external customers, to validate design concepts and gather actionable feedback.

• Customer Insights & Market Understanding: Engage directly with architects and designers at customer firms to gather qualitative insights into their current documentation, review, and coordination processes, identifying key pain points and opportunities for AI-driven improvement.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with in-house architects, engineers, and leadership to translate technical capabilities and business requirements into user-friendly and impactful design solutions.

• Product Strategy Contribution: Provide design-led input into the product roadmap, helping to prioritize features and define the long-term vision for SketchPro's AI architecture platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "design how architects guide AI, review its work, and collaborate" is a core GTM function as it directly impacts user adoption, perceived value, and the overall success of the product in the market. This requires not just UI/UX skills but also a deep understanding of user workflows and business objectives.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Architecture, or a related field is preferred, though equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience: A minimum of 3 years of professional product design experience, with a proven track record of shipping successful products.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: 3+ years of hands-on experience in product design, demonstrating a strong understanding of the full design lifecycle from research to implementation.

• Portfolio of Shipped Work: A compelling portfolio showcasing previous product design projects, highlighting shipped products and demonstrating impact.

• Visual Design Acumen: Exceptional skills in visual design, including typography, color theory, layout, and the ability to create aesthetically pleasing and brand-aligned interfaces.

• Interaction Design Proficiency: Strong ability to design intuitive and engaging user interactions, defining clear navigation, information architecture, and micro-interactions.

• Prototyping Skills: Proficiency in using industry-standard prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to create interactive mockups and user flows.

• User Research & Testing: Experience conducting user interviews, usability testing, and synthesizing feedback to inform design decisions.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Skills:

• AI/Copilot Design Experience: Prior experience designing user interfaces for AI agents, copilots, or machine learning-driven products.

• Domain Expertise (Architecture/Engineering): Familiarity with CAD, BIM (Building Information Modeling), 3D modeling software, or a background in architecture or engineering.

• Technical Proficiency: Experience with canvas-based software, prototyping in code (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript), or shipping production frontend code.

• Design Systems: Experience building or contributing to design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preference for experience with AI agents, CAD, BIM, or a background in architecture directly informs the type of product and GTM strategy SketchPro is pursuing. A candidate with this background will require less ramp-up time and can immediately contribute to defining the product's core value proposition and user adoption strategies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Shipped Product Case Studies: Detailed case studies of at least two shipped products, clearly outlining your role, the problem addressed, the design process, key challenges, and measurable outcomes.

• User-Centric Design Examples: Demonstrations of how you incorporated user research and feedback into your design process to solve specific user problems.

• Interaction Design Examples: Prototypes or design artifacts that showcase complex interaction patterns and user flows.

• Visual Design & System Components: Examples of visual design language, component libraries, or design system contributions.

• AI/Complex System Design (Preferred): If available, examples of designing interfaces for AI, complex workflows, or specialized software.

Process Documentation:

• Problem Definition & Solutioning: Clearly articulate the user problem or business need, the proposed design solution, and the rationale behind your design choices.

• Iterative Design Process: Showcase your iterative design process, including iterations based on user feedback and testing.

• Metrics & Impact: Quantify the impact of your design work using relevant metrics (e.g., conversion rates, task completion time, user satisfaction scores, adoption rates).

📝 Enhancement Note: For a founding designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It's not just about aesthetics but about demonstrating the ability to define and solve complex problems for a new product category. The emphasis on "shipped work" and "impact" indicates that SketchPro values designers who can deliver tangible results and drive product adoption.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $170,000 - $210,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.

• Daily Culinary Experience: Expensed lunch and dinner provided 5 days a week at the San Francisco office.

• Wellness Support: A Health + Wellness Stipend to support employee well-being.

• Equity Ownership: Competitive equity package, offering a stake in the company's growth and success.

Working Hours: The role requires full-time commitment, typically aligning with standard business hours in San Francisco (Pacific Time). Given the founding nature of the role, some flexibility may be expected to meet critical project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific to the San Francisco Bay Area, a high cost-of-living region known for competitive tech compensation. The inclusion of expensed meals and a wellness stipend are common perks in fast-paced startup environments aimed at enhancing employee experience and productivity, particularly for in-office roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence, Architecture, Engineering, Construction Technology (AEC Tech), Software Development. SketchPro operates at the intersection of AI and the AEC industry, aiming to revolutionize construction documentation.

Company Size: Early-stage startup (specific employee count not provided, but implied to be small given the "founding" nature of the role). This means a highly collaborative, agile, and hands-on environment.

Founded: The company was founded recently, indicated by the "founding" role and venture backing from prominent investors. This suggests a dynamic and fast-paced environment with a strong focus on rapid product development and market entry.

Team Structure:

• Lean & Agile: As a founding team member, you'll be part of a small, dedicated group.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close collaboration with in-house architects, engineers, and leadership is a cornerstone of the team structure.

• Direct Impact: Every team member's contribution is highly visible and directly impacts the company's trajectory.

Methodology:

• AI-Driven Innovation: Focus on leveraging AI to solve complex industry problems.

• User-Centric Development: Deeply understanding and addressing the needs of architects and engineers.

• Iterative Design & Development: Rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration are key to product evolution.

• Data-Informed Decisions: While design-focused, decisions are expected to be informed by user feedback and market insights.

Company Website: https://sketchpro.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI in the AEC sector, combined with venture backing from top-tier firms and experienced individuals from leading tech companies, signals a high-potential startup environment. The "founding" aspect of this role implies significant autonomy and the opportunity to shape core product and company direction.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a "Founding" or "Lead" Product Designer position. It signifies a mid-level to senior-level contribution opportunity within a startup context, offering significant influence and ownership over a critical product area.

Reporting Structure: As the sole designer, you will likely report directly to a founder or head of product/engineering, with close daily interaction with the founding team and in-house domain experts.

Operations Impact: The design of SketchPro's AI copilot is central to its Go-To-Market strategy. By creating an intuitive and powerful user experience, this role directly influences product adoption, customer satisfaction, competitive differentiation, and ultimately, revenue generation. The design decisions made here will set the standard for how users interact with AI in the construction documentation space.

Growth Opportunities:

• Product Visionary: Opportunity to significantly shape the product's vision and user experience from its earliest stages.

• Leadership Potential: As the company grows, this role could evolve into leading a design team or expanding responsibilities into product strategy.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen expertise in AI design, AEC workflows, and building disruptive technology products.

• Equity Growth: Benefit from the potential appreciation of equity as the company scales.

• Learning & Development: Gain invaluable experience in a high-growth, venture-backed startup environment, learning from experienced founders and investors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Founding Product Designer" title strongly suggests a pathway to leadership. The ability to define the design function from scratch and influence product strategy offers substantial growth beyond typical mid-level design roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully in-person, 5x/week, located in San Francisco, adjacent to Salesforce Tower. This indicates a commitment to fostering in-person collaboration, idea exchange, and a strong team culture.

Office Location(s): San Francisco, California, United States. The specific location near Salesforce Tower suggests a prime downtown tech hub environment, likely offering good accessibility and proximity to other industry players.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The in-person requirement fosters a dynamic environment for spontaneous brainstorming, whiteboarding sessions, and rapid feedback loops with architects and engineers.

• Resource-Rich: Expect access to the necessary design tools and technology, with potential for input on acquiring new software or hardware.

• Domain Immersion: Working directly alongside architects and engineers provides constant exposure to the target user's world, facilitating deep empathy and understanding.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with an expectation of commitment to the success of a founding-stage company. While core hours likely exist, flexibility to achieve project milestones is characteristic of startup environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a fully in-person environment for 5 days a week is a strong signal about the company's belief in the power of co-located collaboration for innovation and rapid problem-solving, especially critical for a founding design role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Portfolio Walkthrough: Initial stages will likely involve presenting shipped projects from your portfolio, detailing your design process, challenges, and outcomes.

• Design Challenge: A practical exercise focused on a real SketchPro problem, potentially involving designing an AI interaction or workflow for construction documentation, to be worked through with an in-house architect.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with founders, engineers, and architects to assess technical skills, cultural fit, and ability to collaborate.

• Final Discussion: A concluding conversation to discuss vision, role expectations, and alignment with the company's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business and user impact of your designs. Use metrics where possible.

• Showcase Process: Detail your thought process, research methods, iteration cycles, and how you arrived at your final solutions.

• Tailor to SketchPro: Highlight projects that demonstrate experience with complex workflows, AI, or specialized software if applicable. Emphasize your ability to design for technical users.

• Visual Storytelling: Present your work in a clear, visually engaging, and narrative format.

• Prepare for a Challenge: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a specific design problem provided by SketchPro.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research AI copilots, construction documentation processes, BIM, and CAD software. Understand the pain points of architects and engineers.

• Think AI-First: Consider how users interact with AI, how to build trust, and how to handle AI errors or unexpected outputs.

• Focus on Workflow: Design solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing or improved architectural workflows.

• Be Ready to Iterate: The challenge will likely involve discussion and iteration, so be open to feedback and alternative approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "How We Hire" section explicitly states a portfolio walkthrough followed by a design challenge with an in-house architect. This indicates a very practical, hands-on approach to evaluation, prioritizing real-world problem-solving skills over theoretical knowledge.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (or similar industry-standard tools). Proficiency in at least one is essential.

• Collaboration: Tools like Slack, Notion, or similar for team communication and documentation.

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for conducting remote interviews and usability tests.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated, familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) would be beneficial for understanding user behavior post-launch. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the design role, but understanding how design impacts CRM data or automation workflows could be a plus. Preferred Technical Stack:

• Prototyping in Code: Experience with web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) for creating interactive prototypes.

• Frontend Development: Experience shipping production frontend code, indicating a deep understanding of implementation constraints and possibilities.

• CAD/BIM Software: Familiarity with industry-specific software like AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, etc.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Nice to Have" section explicitly mentions "Experience prototyping in code or shipping production frontend code." This suggests that SketchPro values designers who have a strong technical understanding and can bridge the gap between design and development, potentially even contributing to early-stage frontend implementation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Disruption: A drive to build groundbreaking technology that fundamentally changes an industry.

• User Empathy: A deep commitment to understanding and solving the real problems faced by architects and engineers.

• Collaboration & Ownership: Working together effectively, taking responsibility for outcomes, and contributing to a shared vision.

• Excellence & Quality: A dedication to high standards in design, engineering, and product delivery.

• Speed & Agility: The ability to move quickly, iterate, and adapt in a fast-paced startup environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated: Designers work hand-in-hand with engineers and domain experts (architects).

• Direct & Open: Clear, honest, and constructive feedback is encouraged.

• Problem-Solving Focused: The team likely prioritizes finding the best solutions collaboratively.

• Mission-Driven: United by a shared goal to transform the AEC industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values are inferred from the company's mission, the "founding" nature of the role, and the emphasis on working closely with architects and engineers. This points to a culture that values impact, innovation, and strong teamwork.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining a New Category: Designing for a novel AI copilot in a traditional industry presents unique challenges in user adoption, trust-building, and workflow integration.

• Sole Designer Responsibility: Managing the entire design workload, from strategy to execution, requires exceptional time management and prioritization skills.

• Bridging the Gap: Translating complex AI capabilities and architectural needs into intuitive user experiences.

• Rapid Iteration Under Pressure: Working in a fast-paced startup environment to meet ambitious product development timelines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Pioneering AI Design: Gain cutting-edge experience in designing for generative AI and intelligent assistants.

• Industry Transformation: Be at the forefront of innovation in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) technology sector.

• Leadership Development: Grow into a leadership role as the company scales.

• Startup Acumen: Develop a comprehensive understanding of building and scaling a technology company from the ground up.

• Mentorship: Learn from experienced founders and investors in the venture capital and tech space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the unique nature of this role as a founding member, emphasizing the need for adaptability, problem-solving, and a proactive approach to navigating uncharted territory in AI product design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing the primary interaction model for an AI copilot that generates construction documentation?" (Focus on AI guidance, review, and collaboration).

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly technical user base with complex existing workflows. How did you ensure adoption and usability?" (Relate to architects/engineers and CAD/BIM).

• "Imagine you're given a brief to design a feature for AI-assisted design review. What would be your first steps, and what key questions would you ask?" (Demonstrate process and user-centricity). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about SketchPro's mission to build an AI architect?" (Show genuine interest and alignment).

• "How do you envision collaborating with engineers and architects on a daily basis in a founding team environment?" (Highlight teamwork and communication skills).

• "What are your thoughts on the importance of in-person collaboration for a design role in a startup?" (Address the work arrangement directly). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, frame it as a narrative: the problem, your role, your process, the solution, and the impact.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Highlight AI/Technical Aspects: If you have relevant experience, explicitly call it out and discuss the unique challenges.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect questions about specific design decisions, trade-offs, and alternative approaches.

• Practice the Challenge: Mentally walk through how you'd tackle a hypothetical SketchPro design problem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation tips are tailored to the specific requirements mentioned in the job description, including the focus on AI, architecture users, the in-person requirement, and the portfolio/challenge-based hiring process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Founding Product Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Apply directly through the provided Ashby link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest shipped product case studies that best showcase your visual design, interaction design, and problem-solving skills. Prioritize projects that demonstrate experience with complex workflows, technical users, or AI if applicable. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, your contribution, and measurable outcomes.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 3+ years of product design experience, specific skills in visual and interaction design, and any experience with AI, CAD, BIM, or frontend development. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design philosophy and how your experience aligns with SketchPro's mission to build the first AI architect. Practice walking through your portfolio projects concisely and impactfully.

• Research SketchPro: Understand their product, target audience (architects/engineers), and the current market for AI in AEC. Familiarize yourself with their company values and mission.

⚠️ 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.