UX Motion Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Motion Designer

Company: Hinge Health

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: February 06, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This foundational role is responsible for defining and shaping the role of motion across Hinge Health's product, from intricate micro-interactions to system-level behaviors that enhance user guidance and build trust.

• The position requires a deep understanding of how motion design contributes to usability, communicates system states effectively, and fosters emotional resonance beyond mere visual appeal.

• The UX Motion Designer will be a key collaborator, working closely with product designers, engineers, and cross-functional partners to embed motion design principles into the core of product development and decision-making.

• This is a unique opportunity to operate with significant autonomy as the sole UX Motion Designer, building scalable motion systems, standards, and libraries that will integrate with the company's existing design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "UX Motion Designer," the core responsibilities and required experience strongly indicate a senior-level individual contributor role focused on strategic design system development and implementation of motion principles within a product. The emphasis on building scalable systems and acting as the primary advocate for motion suggests a role that goes beyond execution to include establishing best practices and influencing product direction.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and implement motion-rich interactions that demonstrably improve product usability, clearly communicate system states, and create emotional clarity for users, ensuring motion serves a functional purpose beyond aesthetic appeal.

• Translate complex product requirements and technical specifications into thoughtfully designed transitions, micro-interactions, and overarching interaction patterns that enhance the user journey.

• Partner proactively with product designers from the initial stages of the design process to ensure motion is seamlessly integrated into user flows, hierarchy, and feedback mechanisms, rather than being an add-on.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to define precise motion specifications, assess technical feasibility, and ensure the accurate and high-quality implementation of motion designs within the product.

• Develop and meticulously maintain scalable motion guidelines, principles, and reusable libraries that align with and enhance Hinge Health's existing design system.

• Utilize a range of prototyping tools to rapidly explore, communicate, and validate interaction and motion design concepts, iterating based on feedback and user testing.

• Act as the primary advocate and subject matter expert for motion design, educating the broader product and design teams on the strategic value and impact of well-executed motion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design, system building, and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "design systems," "scalable guidelines," and "advocacy" points to a senior individual contributor role responsible for establishing and elevating the practice of motion design within the company.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

Required Skills:

• Prototyping Prowess: Standout skills in prototyping tools such as Rive, Figma, Adobe After Effects, Protopie, or similar, demonstrating the ability to bring motion concepts to life and test them effectively.

• Portfolio Excellence: An up-to-date, comprehensive portfolio that clearly showcases high-quality motion craft, strong visual design abilities, sophisticated systems thinking, and demonstrable product impact.

• Collaborative Experience: Proven experience working in close partnership with product designers and engineers on shipped products, highlighting an ability to integrate design into development cycles.

• Mobile Design Expertise: Deep understanding of designing for mobile platforms (iOS and Android), including platform-specific interaction patterns and motion conventions.

• Motion Design Craft: Exceptional ability in crafting fluid, purposeful, and engaging motion for user interfaces, including transitions, micro-interactions, and animations that enhance user experience.

Preferred Skills:

• Ambiguity Navigation: Enjoyment and demonstrated ability in tackling ambiguous problems and structuring them into clear, scalable design systems and solutions.

• Interaction Design Foundation: Established foundation in core interaction design principles, usability best practices, and human-centered design methodologies.

• Communication & Storytelling: Strong storytelling and communication skills, with a clear ability to articulate the rationale and strategic importance behind motion design decisions to diverse stakeholders.

• Design System Contribution: Experience building or significantly contributing to motion systems within larger design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability.

• Accessibility Awareness: Familiarity with accessibility considerations related to motion design, including managing cognitive load, ensuring clarity, and implementing appropriate "reduce motion" features.

• Technical Partnership: Comfort and proficiency in navigating technical constraints and trade-offs, working effectively with engineering teams to find optimal solutions.

• System Building: A proactive approach to building structure in evolving environments, with a passion for creating foundational design systems and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "7+ years of experience" and the emphasis on building "scalable motion guidelines, principles, and libraries" suggest this role is for a senior-level individual contributor, often referred to as a Staff or Principal UX Motion Designer, who will be instrumental in defining the company's motion design strategy. The mention of "sole UX Motion Designer" further reinforces this seniority.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Motion Craft Demonstration: Showcase a range of motion design projects with clear examples of transitions, micro-interactions, and animations, highlighting the purpose and impact of each.

• Systems Thinking: Present projects that demonstrate an understanding of how motion integrates into a larger design system, including consistency, scalability, and reusable components.

• Product Impact: Include case studies or project examples that clearly articulate the problem solved, the design process, and the measurable impact of motion design on user experience and business goals.

• Prototyping Capabilities: Provide examples of interactive prototypes that effectively communicate motion design intent, ideally showcasing the use of tools like Rive, Figma, After Effects, or Protopie.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Integration: Demonstrate experience in integrating motion design seamlessly into existing product design and development workflows, from initial concept to final implementation.

• Specification & Collaboration: Show examples of how motion specifications are documented and communicated to engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation.

• Guideline Development: Highlight any experience in creating or contributing to motion design guidelines, principles, or libraries, emphasizing maintainability and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on building out a motion system, the portfolio should emphasize not just individual UI animations, but also the strategic thinking behind creating a scalable and consistent motion language. Candidates should be prepared to discuss the process of defining principles, creating libraries, and collaborating with engineering on implementation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $195,000 - $260,000 USD per year (San Francisco Market)

Benefits:

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

• Specialized Care Support: Benefits extend to help with gender-affirming care, tools for family planning, and fertility planning.

• Travel Reimbursement: Assistance provided if necessary healthcare services are not available in the employee's local area.

• Retirement Planning: Traditional or Roth 401k retirement plan options available.

• Company Match: A 2% company match is offered on 401k contributions.

• Learning & Development: Modern life stipends are provided for personal learning and development.

Working Hours:

• Full-time role, with an expectation of 40 hours per week.

• Specific working hours are typical of a standard business day, with hybrid work requiring 3 days per week in the San Francisco office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific to the San Francisco market, reflecting the high cost of living and competitive tech landscape in that region. The benefits package is notably comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on inclusive healthcare and family support, which is a key differentiator for Hinge Health.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology (Digital Health, Software, AI)

Company Size: The company description implies a growing, well-established tech company, likely in the mid-to-large size range, given its focus on AI, platform development, and comprehensive benefits. LinkedIn data indicates Hinge Health has between 501-1,000 employees.

Founded: Hinge Health was founded in 2017, indicating it's a relatively young but rapidly scaling company that has achieved significant market traction.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is described as "tight-knit" and "highly collaborative," suggesting an environment where close working relationships are valued.

• As the sole UX Motion Designer, the role will report into a design leadership position, likely a Head of Product Design or Design Manager, working very closely with Product Designers and Engineers.

Methodology:

• Hinge Health leverages software, including AI, to automate care for joint and muscle health, indicating a data-driven and technology-forward approach.

• The company's focus on delivering an "outstanding member experience" suggests a user-centric methodology that prioritizes usability, effectiveness, and emotional resonance in product design.

• The emphasis on building "cohesive, intuitive, and emotionally resonant member experiences" points to a design philosophy that balances functional user needs with emotional connection.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to improve joint and muscle health through technology, combined with its emphasis on user experience and AI, positions it as an innovative player in the digital health space. The "tight-knit" design team structure suggests a culture where individual contributions are visible and impactful, but also where collaboration and shared ownership are crucial for success.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Staff-level Individual Contributor. The "7+ years of experience" requirement, the responsibility for shaping a new function ("sole UX Motion Designer"), and the mandate to build "scalable motion guidelines, principles, and libraries" all point to a senior position. This level typically involves significant autonomy, strategic influence, and the expectation of mentoring or guiding others in their area of expertise, even without direct reports.

Reporting Structure: The UX Motion Designer will likely report to a design lead (e.g., Head of Product Design, Design Director, or Senior Design Manager). They will work in close partnership with Product Designers and Engineers, forming project-specific "squads" or "pods" for feature development, while maintaining a connection to the broader design team for craft and consistency.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is significant, directly influencing how millions of members interact with and perceive the Hinge Health platform. By enhancing usability, clarity, and emotional resonance through motion, the UX Motion Designer contributes to improved member engagement, better adherence to therapy, and ultimately, improved health outcomes. This role is critical in translating complex health information and therapeutic guidance into an intuitive and supportive digital experience, directly impacting user trust and the overall value proposition of the product.

Growth Opportunities:

• Establishing a New Discipline: The primary growth opportunity lies in building and defining the motion design practice at Hinge Health from the ground up, establishing standards, and creating a scalable system. This offers significant influence and ownership.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Opportunity to influence product strategy and design direction by championing the role of motion, potentially leading to mentorship roles or becoming a go-to expert for motion across the organization.

• Skill Expansion: While specialized in motion, the role offers chances to deepen understanding of interaction design, design systems, accessibility, and the technical implementation of motion, broadening the designer's overall skillset.

• Impactful Product Contribution: Contributing to a product that positively impacts the health and well-being of millions of users provides intrinsic motivation and a clear sense of purpose.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" level designation is inferred from the combination of extensive experience requirements, the mandate to build foundational systems, and the description of operating with autonomy as the "sole" practitioner in this specialized area. This implies a strategic individual contributor role rather than a management track, focused on deep expertise and organizational impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hinge Health operates a hybrid work model in its San Francisco office. This suggests a modern, collaborative office space designed to accommodate both focused individual work and team-based collaboration. The office is described as dog-friendly, contributing to a more relaxed and approachable work atmosphere.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is San Francisco, California, specifically at 455 Market Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94105. This central location in a major tech hub likely offers good accessibility via public transportation and proximity to other industry resources.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is designed to foster collaboration, with 3 days per week in-office expectation for hybrid roles. This encourages in-person interaction, brainstorming sessions, and team building.

• Tools & Technology: While not explicitly detailed for this role, a company focused on AI and software development would typically provide designers with industry-standard hardware and software, including powerful workstations, design software licenses, and potentially specialized hardware for prototyping or testing.

• Team Interaction: The "tight-knit" design team structure implies frequent opportunities for designers to interact, share work, provide feedback, and learn from one another, both formally and informally.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, with standard business hours (approximately 40 hours per week).

• The hybrid model requires employees to be in the office for 3 days per week, for the full 8 hours of a typical business day, balancing in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with a specific office day requirement is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should be prepared for a structured hybrid setup, balancing remote work flexibility with mandatory in-office collaboration days designed to foster team cohesion and spontaneous interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Typically an HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, alignment with company values, and interest in the role.

• Portfolio Review & Design Discussion: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, design rationale, and impact. This is where the UX Motion Designer will showcase their craft and strategic thinking.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Designers and Engineers to assess collaboration skills, understanding of technical constraints, and ability to integrate motion into product development pipelines.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into experience, leadership potential, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit with the design team and company.

• Potential Final Round: May involve a take-home assignment or a live design exercise focused on motion design principles and problem-solving, followed by a final discussion with senior leadership.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process, the specific motion solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes or impact on the user experience.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: Highlight projects where you've considered scalability, consistency, and integration with design systems. Discuss how you've built or contributed to motion guidelines.

• Demonstrate Craft & Intent: Use high-quality videos or interactive prototypes to showcase your motion design skills. Explain the 'why' behind your design choices – why this timing, easing, or type of animation.

• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, include examples of how you've worked with product designers and engineers, and how your motion designs were implemented. Discuss any challenges and how you overcame them.

• Tailor to Hinge Health: Research Hinge Health's product and brand. Consider how your motion design philosophy aligns with their mission to provide empathetic and effective digital health solutions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Motion Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential design challenge that might involve creating motion for a specific UI element or flow, or critiquing existing motion. Focus on clarity, usability, and emotional resonance.

• Systems Thinking Challenge: Expect questions about how you would approach building a motion system, defining principles, or scaling motion across a product.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would handle disagreements with engineers on feasibility or with product designers on the necessity of certain animations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "sole UX Motion Designer" nature of the role, the portfolio review will be critical. Candidates need to demonstrate not only their individual craft but also their ability to define and establish a design practice, including creating guidelines and collaborating effectively to ensure implementation. The interview process will likely assess strategic thinking and the ability to operate with significant autonomy.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping Software: Standout skills in tools such as Rive, Figma (with motion plugins/capabilities), Adobe After Effects, and Protopie are essential for exploring, animating, and communicating motion design concepts.

• Design Software: Proficiency in Figma is highly probable, given its industry prevalence and integration with prototyping and design systems. Adobe Creative Suite (especially After Effects) is also a strong possibility.

• Motion Design Tools: Specific expertise in animation and motion graphics tools will be key.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the UX Motion Designer role, but understanding how user interfaces are integrated within larger product ecosystems might be helpful.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core tools for this role are centered around design and animation. The emphasis on Rive, Figma, After Effects, and Protopie indicates a need for a versatile designer capable of both high-fidelity animation and integration within modern design workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity & Empathy: Hinge Health's mission to improve joint and muscle health implies a core value of deeply understanding and empathizing with members' needs and challenges. Motion design should serve this empathetic approach.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: The emphasis on "high-quality motion craft" and "emotional resonance" suggests a value placed on meticulous execution and attention to detail in design.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: The "tight-knit, highly collaborative" team structure and the company's commitment to DEI indicate a culture that thrives on teamwork, open communication, and valuing diverse perspectives.

• Innovation & Impact: Leveraging AI and aiming to "make a meaningful difference" in members' lives highlights a drive for innovation and a focus on achieving tangible, positive outcomes through technology.

• Autonomy & Ownership: As the "sole UX Motion Designer" operating with "autonomy," the culture likely encourages individuals to take ownership of their domains and drive initiatives forward.

Collaboration Style:

• Deep Integration: The role requires working "deeply embedded" with product designers and engineers, suggesting a collaborative style that is integrated into daily workflows, not siloed.

• Advocacy & Education: The UX Motion Designer will act as an advocate, requiring a collaborative style focused on educating and influencing others about the value and application of motion.

• Systemic Approach: Collaboration will involve building and maintaining shared resources like motion guidelines and libraries, fostering a collaborative approach to design system development.

• Feedback Loops: Expect a culture that encourages iterative design through prototypes and regular feedback sessions with cross-functional partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes not just design excellence but also the human impact of technology. For a motion designer, this means understanding how motion can build trust, reduce anxiety, and guide users through potentially sensitive health journeys.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing a New Function: As the sole UX Motion Designer, a primary challenge will be defining and building the motion design practice, including establishing standards, workflows, and buy-in from stakeholders.

• Balancing Craft with Scalability: Ensuring that high-quality, delightful motion is also scalable, technically feasible, and consistent across a growing product requires careful strategic planning and system design.

• Advocating for Motion: Educating teams on the strategic importance of motion design and integrating it early in the design process, rather than as an afterthought, can be a continuous challenge.

• Technical Constraints: Navigating technical limitations with engineering teams to achieve desired motion effects while ensuring performance and accessibility will require strong problem-solving skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to lead the development and evolution of the motion component of Hinge Health's design system, gaining significant experience in design system architecture and management.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Deepen understanding of interaction design, user research, accessibility standards, and front-end development through close collaboration.

• Strategic Influence: Develop skills in influencing product strategy and advocating for design best practices at a company-wide level.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers or contribute to the growth of the broader design team through knowledge sharing and best practice evangelism.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are closely linked to the "foundational" and "sole practitioner" nature of the role. Success will depend on proactive leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to build and scale a new design discipline within the organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a motion design system from the ground up for a product like Hinge Health, considering its mission and user base?" (Focus on process, principles, and collaboration).

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a specific motion design choice that was initially met with skepticism. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Demonstrates communication, persuasion, and impact).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you see motion design contributing to Hinge Health's mission of improving joint and muscle health?" (Connects your expertise to the company's purpose).

• "How would you integrate into a hybrid work environment and collaborate effectively with remote and in-office team members?" (Assesses adaptability to work arrangements).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the design process (including user research, ideation, prototyping), the motion solutions, and the impact.

• Showcase the 'Why': Don't just show animations; explain the purpose behind them. How did the motion enhance usability, convey information, or create a specific emotional response?

• Highlight Systems Thinking: If you have examples of building or contributing to design systems or motion guidelines, present them prominently. Discuss how you ensured scalability and consistency.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, Rive, After Effects, Protopie, and how you leveraged these tools to achieve your design goals.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Engineers may ask about implementation feasibility, performance considerations, and how you collaborate with them on technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to act as a strategic leader in motion design, not just an executor. Demonstrating a clear understanding of how motion impacts user experience, builds trust, and aligns with a health-focused mission will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Motion Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Hinge Health careers portal (https://careers.hingehealth.com/jobs/2442).

• Customize Your Portfolio: Curate your portfolio to heavily feature projects showcasing your motion design craft, systems thinking, and impact on mobile consumer-facing products. Prioritize examples that demonstrate building scalable motion guidelines or contributing to design systems.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 7+ years of experience in motion and interaction design for mobile, specifically mentioning proficiency in tools like Rive, Figma, After Effects, and Protopie, and any experience in building design systems.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, the strategic rationale behind your motion choices, and the measurable impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your experience collaborating with product designers and engineers.

• Research Hinge Health: Understand their mission, product, and target audience. Consider how your motion design philosophy can best serve their users and contribute to their goals of empathetic and effective digital health solutions.

⚠️ 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.