Staff UX Motion Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff UX Motion Designer

Company: Hinge Health

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: March 04, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a foundational, craft-defining role as the sole UX Motion Designer responsible for shaping motion across Hinge Health's product.

• Focus on designing motion-rich interactions that enhance usability, communicate system state, and create emotional clarity.

• Collaborate deeply with product designers and engineers to integrate motion early in the design process and ensure high-quality implementation.

• Build and maintain scalable motion guidelines, principles, and libraries that integrate with the existing design system.

• Utilize prototyping tools to explore, communicate, and validate interaction ideas efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is within Product Design, its focus on user experience, interaction patterns, and system-level behaviors has significant overlap with the strategic and operational aspects of Revenue Operations and Sales Operations, particularly in ensuring a cohesive and effective user journey that drives engagement and trust. The emphasis on building scalable systems and guidelines also aligns with operational efficiency principles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and implement motion-rich interactions that improve user experience, clearly communicate system status, and foster emotional resonance.

• Translate product requirements and technical specifications into thoughtful transitions, micro-interactions, and coherent interaction patterns.

• Partner closely with Product Designers to ensure motion is an integral part of the design process, influencing flows, hierarchy, and feedback mechanisms from inception.

• Collaborate with Engineering teams to define precise motion specifications, assess feasibility, and ensure the successful implementation of motion designs.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive, scalable motion guidelines, principles, and reusable libraries that align with and enhance the company's established design system.

• Employ prototyping tools (low to high-fidelity) to rapidly explore, communicate, and validate interaction concepts.

• Act as the primary advocate and educator for motion design within the product team, guiding stakeholders on the strategic application and impact of motion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed here emphasize the creation and integration of design elements. For operations professionals, understanding how these design elements translate into user engagement, conversion, and retention is key. The "scalable motion guidelines" and "integration with design system" aspects are particularly relevant to operations, as they represent the creation of standardized processes and assets that can be leveraged across the organization, impacting efficiency and consistency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Design, Animation, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Experience: 7+ years of experience designing motion or interaction-driven experiences for mobile (iOS/Android) consumer-facing digital products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in designing motion or interaction-driven experiences for mobile consumer products.

• Standout prototyping skills using tools such as Rive, Figma, Adobe After Effects, or ProtoPie.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with product designers and engineers on shipped products.

• Strong understanding of visual design principles and their application to motion.

Preferred Skills:

• A strong foundation in interaction design principles, usability best practices, and human-centered design methodologies.

• Excellent storytelling and communication skills, with the ability to articulate the rationale behind motion design decisions.

• Experience in developing or contributing to motion systems integrated within broader design systems.

• Familiarity with accessibility considerations for motion design, including reduced motion settings and cognitive load.

• Comfort and experience navigating technical constraints and trade-offs in partnership with engineering teams.

• A proactive approach to building structure and systems in evolving environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is design-centric, the "systems thinking," "collaboration with engineers," and "navigating technical constraints" aspects are highly transferable to operations roles. Operations professionals often build and manage systems, collaborate with technical teams, and work within product constraints. The portfolio requirement for demonstrating "product impact" is also a direct parallel to operations' focus on demonstrating ROI and business value.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase high-quality motion craft with clear examples of transitions, micro-interactions, and system-level behaviors.

• Demonstrate strong visual design skills and an understanding of aesthetic principles applied to motion.

• Highlight evidence of systems thinking, including the creation or contribution to scalable motion guidelines and design system components.

• Provide clear examples of product impact, illustrating how motion design decisions improved user experience, usability, or achieved specific business objectives.

Process Documentation:

• Detail the process used for translating product and technical requirements into motion design specifications.

• Illustrate the methodology for collaborating with product designers and engineers, including feedback loops and iteration cycles.

• Document the approach to building and maintaining motion guidelines and libraries, ensuring scalability and consistency.

• Showcase the use of prototyping tools and techniques to explore, validate, and communicate interaction ideas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio that demonstrates "product impact," "systems thinking," and "scalable guidelines" is directly analogous to the requirements for operations professionals. Operations roles often require a portfolio showcasing process optimization, system implementation, and quantifiable business results. The ability to document and present a clear design process is also a critical skill for operations in defining and refining workflows.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $195,000 - $292,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families.

• Assistance for gender-affirming care.

• Tools and support for family and fertility planning.

• Travel reimbursements for healthcare needs not available locally.

• Traditional or Roth 401k retirement plan options.

• A 2% company match on 401k contributions.

• Modern life stipends for personal learning and development.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, with an expectation of 3 days per week in the San Francisco office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a senior-level design role in San Francisco. For operations roles at a similar level and location, a comparable or slightly higher range might be expected, depending on the specific responsibilities and impact. The benefits package is comprehensive and reflects a strong commitment to employee well-being, which is also a key factor in attracting and retaining talent in operations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology (specifically digital health for joint and muscle conditions).

Company Size: Hinge Health is a growing company, indicated by the need for a foundational role like this and the hybrid work model, suggesting established operations but continued expansion.

Founded: While not explicitly stated, the company's focus on AI and sophisticated software suggests a modern, innovation-driven foundation.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within a "tight-knit, highly collaborative Product Design team."

• This is a unique "foundational, craft-defining role" as the "sole UX Motion Designer."

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes building "cohesive, intuitive, and emotionally resonant member experiences."

• Motion design is integrated into the "heart of design decision-making."

• There's a strong focus on building "systems and standards that scale."

• The company leverages "software, including AI," to automate care and deliver member experiences.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Hinge Health positions itself as an innovation leader in digital health, utilizing technology like AI to solve significant member problems. For operations professionals, this implies an environment that values data-driven decision-making, process optimization, and the implementation of scalable solutions. The emphasis on "member experience" and "outcomes" aligns with how operations measures success through efficiency, customer satisfaction, and business impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Staff," indicating a senior individual contributor level with significant autonomy and influence. For operations, this translates to a role that is expected to define strategy, build foundational processes, and mentor others, even if not directly managing a team.

Reporting Structure: The Staff UX Motion Designer will work "deeply embedded with product designers, engineers, and cross-functional partners." While direct reporting lines aren't specified, it's likely the role reports into a Head of Product Design or a similar senior design leadership position.

Operations Impact: While the primary impact is on the user experience through motion design, the role's strategic objective is to build scalable systems and standards. This has a direct operational impact by ensuring consistency, efficiency in design implementation, and a cohesive brand experience that can influence user adoption, retention, and overall satisfaction, contributing to business goals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to define and build the motion design practice from the ground up, establishing standards and best practices.

• Potential to influence the broader design system and product strategy through the application of motion.

• Advancement to Principal or Lead UX Motion Designer roles as the practice grows.

• Development of leadership skills by acting as the primary advocate and educator for motion design.

• Deepen expertise in healthcare technology and its unique design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" level designation signals an opportunity for significant individual impact and the chance to shape foundational elements, much like a Senior Operations Manager or Director might do in building out a new function or refining core processes. The growth opportunities highlight the potential for leadership and strategic influence, common aspirations for career-driven operations professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hinge Health operates a hybrid model, requiring employees to be in the office 3 days per week. The San Francisco office is described as having a "dog-friendly workplace program."

Office Location(s): San Francisco, California.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as "tight-knit" and "highly collaborative."

• The role requires deep embedding with product designers and engineers, suggesting frequent interaction and teamwork.

• The hybrid model aims to leverage the benefits of both in-person collaboration and remote flexibility.

• As a San Francisco-based office, it likely offers access to a vibrant tech ecosystem and talent pool.

Work Schedule: The hybrid model implies a structured work week with in-office days dedicated to collaboration and team interaction, while remote days may offer focused work time. The expectation is for full-time engagement, with specific office attendance requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with 3 days in-office in San Francisco indicates a company that values in-person collaboration for key activities like brainstorming, design critiques, and team building, while allowing for focused work remotely. This mirrors many modern operations environments where strategic planning and cross-functional alignment might benefit from in-office time, while data analysis and documentation can be done effectively remotely.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial screening by a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio review and interview with hiring managers and Design leadership to evaluate craft, systems thinking, and collaboration skills.

• Potential for a design exercise or case study presentation focused on motion design challenges and problem-solving.

• Interviews with cross-functional partners (e.g., Engineering, Product Management) to assess collaboration and communication style.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Clearly articulate the role of motion in each project and its contribution to user experience and business goals.

• Showcase a range of motion applications, from subtle micro-interactions to more complex transitions.

• Detail your process, including how you collaborated with designers and engineers, and how you incorporated feedback.

• Highlight any contributions to design systems or the creation of scalable motion guidelines.

• Be prepared to discuss the "why" behind your design decisions and how they address specific problems.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach building a motion system from scratch or scaling an existing one.

• Prepare examples of how you've handled ambiguous problems and defined clear solutions.

• Think about how you would advocate for motion design within a team that may not have deep expertise in it.

• Practice articulating complex technical and design concepts clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations candidates, the portfolio review and interview process will be similar in structure but focused on operational achievements. Instead of motion craft, focus on process optimization case studies, system implementation projects, data analysis reports, and ROI demonstrations. Clearly articulate your role, methodology, challenges, and quantifiable business impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping: Rive, Figma, ProtoPie, Adobe After Effects (demonstrates a need for versatility in motion and interaction design tools).

• Design: Figma (primary design tool, likely integrated with motion plugins or workflows).

• Design System: Experience contributing to or building components within a design system.

Analytics & Reporting: While not explicitly mentioned for this role, the company uses software and AI, implying a strong data infrastructure. Operations professionals would likely interact with tools like:

• Analytics Platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics)

• Business Intelligence Tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker, Power BI)

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this role, but fundamental to operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified tools (Rive, Figma, After Effects, ProtoPie) are critical for this role. For operations roles, proficiency in CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot), marketing automation (Marketo, Pardot), BI tools (Tableau, Looker), and potentially project management/workflow tools (Asana, Jira, Monday.com) is paramount. The ability to integrate various systems is also a key operational skill.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Impact: A drive to solve meaningful problems for members using technology, including AI.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working deeply embedded with cross-functional teams.

• System Building: Focus on creating scalable systems, guidelines, and principles.

• User-Centricity: Commitment to building cohesive, intuitive, and emotionally resonant member experiences.

• Autonomy & Ownership: Encouraging individuals to operate with autonomy and take ownership of foundational craft.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative and integrated with Product Designers and Engineers.

• Serves as an advocate and educator, implying a proactive approach to sharing knowledge and influencing others.

• Focus on ensuring motion is integrated early in design decision-making, not as an add-on.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values highlighted – innovation, impact, collaboration, system building, and user-centricity – are all core tenets of effective Revenue Operations, Sales Operations, and GTM functions. Operations professionals are expected to drive efficiency, enable sales and marketing teams, and contribute to business growth through strategic process and system improvements.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• As the sole UX Motion Designer, the challenge is to establish the motion design practice and its strategic importance across the organization.

• Balancing the desire for high-quality motion craft with technical feasibility and engineering constraints.

• Educating and gaining buy-in from stakeholders on the value and application of motion design.

• Building scalable and maintainable motion systems that integrate seamlessly with the broader design system.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunity to gain deep expertise in the healthcare technology sector and the unique challenges of MSK care.

• Develop leadership skills by defining and championing a new function within the product design team.

• Expand knowledge in accessibility best practices for motion design.

• Grow experience in building and scaling design systems and motion libraries.

• Potential to influence product strategy and member experience at a foundational level.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations professionals often face similar challenges related to establishing new processes, driving adoption, managing cross-functional dependencies, and navigating ambiguity. The growth opportunities in leadership, strategic influence, and specialized domain knowledge are also highly relevant to career progression in operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining and building a comprehensive motion design system from the ground up for a digital health product?"

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a motion design decision that faced technical or design pushback. How did you handle it?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Hinge Health's mission and its approach to MSK care?"

• "How do you envision your role contributing to a 'tight-knit, highly collaborative' product team as the sole UX Motion Designer?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure your presentation around clear case studies that demonstrate your process, problem-solving, and impact.

• For each project, clearly articulate the user problem, your design solution using motion, and the outcome.

• Be prepared to discuss the technical considerations and how you collaborated with engineers.

• Showcase your prototyping skills live or through video examples.

• Emphasize how your work aligns with Hinge Health's goals of creating intuitive and emotionally resonant member experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations interviews, prepare to discuss strategy questions related to process optimization, system implementation, data analysis, and cross-functional alignment. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to frame your answers, focusing on quantifiable achievements and your role in driving business outcomes. Portfolio presentations should focus on operational case studies demonstrating efficiency gains, cost savings, revenue impact, or improved user/customer satisfaction.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff UX Motion Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: Tailor your resume to highlight your 7+ years of experience in motion and interaction design, emphasizing mobile consumer products and prototyping skills.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: Curate your portfolio to showcase your strongest motion design projects, focusing on clarity, impact, and your process, particularly demonstrating systems thinking and collaboration.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare compelling narratives for common interview questions regarding your design process, problem-solving approach, and experience with technical collaboration and system building.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: Research Hinge Health's mission, values, and product to articulate your interest and how your skills align with their goals for member experience and digital health innovation.

⚠️ 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.

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