UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: Archetype AI

Location: San Mateo, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-05-13T19:24:24.406Z

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the user experience and interface design for Archetype AI's groundbreaking AI platform, focusing on bringing AI into the physical world.

• The UX/UI Designer will be instrumental in building and evolving the company's design system, acting as a crucial link between developer tools, product interfaces, and forward-thinking prototypes.

• Success in this role requires a blend of strong visual design craft, systems thinking, and the ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, product, and research teams in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

• The position offers a unique opportunity to influence the design direction of a company at the forefront of physical AI, with a mission to transform real-world data into actionable insights and user-friendly interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's primary focus on a "design system" and its integration across "developer console, product interfaces, and speculative prototypes" indicates a need for a designer who can bridge technical and user-facing aspects, essential for a company developing foundational AI for the physical world. The emphasis on "AI into the real world" and "multimodal LLM for real life" suggests a need for designers who can translate complex technical concepts into intuitive user experiences.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and scale the company's comprehensive design system, encompassing reusable components, clear guidelines, and thorough documentation to ensure consistency and efficiency across all product touchpoints.

• Translate complex product requirements and user needs into clear, precise, and visually compelling design flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups using expert-level Figma skills.

• Create interactive prototypes for workflows and user interactions, leveraging tools like Figma and potentially Javascript, to explore innovative solutions and validate usability with stakeholders.

• Lead and facilitate design workshops and discovery sessions with product managers, engineers, and UX researchers to gather insights, identify user needs, and establish shared design standards and best practices.

• Partner closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering and product management, to shepherd product features through the entire development lifecycle, from initial concept and design to final launch and iteration.

• Effectively present and articulate design decisions, rationale, and strategic vision to internal stakeholders, including leadership, using strong storytelling and data-driven arguments to build consensus.

• Conduct regular audits of the user interface and design system to identify and address inconsistencies, functional gaps, or opportunities for enhancement, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality user experience.

• Champion the adoption and consistent application of the design system across product development teams, sales enablement, and other relevant departments to foster a unified design language and brand identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Build, maintain, and scale our design system" and "Evangelize and drive adoption of design system across product and sales teams" highlights the critical nature of this role in establishing and enforcing design standards within a rapidly growing AI company. The mention of "Vibe-coding workflows" and "Javascript" prototyping suggests a need for a designer comfortable with technical exploration and potentially contributing to early-stage interactive prototypes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and mastery of design principles is expected. Continuous learning and professional development in design methodologies are highly valued.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in UI and UX design is required, with a significant portion dedicated to the creation or substantial evolution of design systems. Proven ability to manage projects from inception to completion and collaborate effectively across diverse teams is essential.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in Figma, including advanced use of component libraries, auto layout features, style guides, and documentation capabilities.

• Exceptional visual design sensibilities, with a deep understanding of grids, layout principles, composition, typography, and color theory.

• Proven experience in developing and scaling design systems, demonstrating the ability to create reusable components, establish clear guidelines, and ensure system integrity.

• Strong UX design skills, including user research, user journey mapping, information architecture, and wireframing.

• Ability to prototype workflows and interactions effectively to test usability and communicate design intent.

• Demonstrated experience in collaborating closely with engineering and product management teams throughout the product development lifecycle.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for Enterprise SaaS environments, understanding the unique needs and complexities of business software.

• Prototyping skills beyond Figma, potentially including Javascript for more dynamic or interactive prototypes.

• Familiarity with front-end development principles (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript frameworks) to facilitate seamless design-to-engineering handoffs.

• Experience designing for Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) products, understanding the nuances of data visualization and user interaction with intelligent systems.

• Skills in animation and motion design to enhance user experience and create engaging interfaces.

• Illustration skills to contribute to a richer visual language and brand identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "Expert level proficiency in Figma including component libraries, auto layout, style guides, and documentation" is a critical technical skill for this role. The preferred skills, particularly "Designing for ML and AI products," indicate that candidates with experience in specialized, cutting-edge fields will have a distinct advantage, aligning with Archetype AI's focus on physical AI.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end design projects, with a particular emphasis on the creation, evolution, or significant contribution to a design system.

• Include detailed case studies that highlight your process for building and maintaining design system components, guidelines, and documentation.

• Showcase examples of complex UI designs and interactive prototypes, illustrating your ability to translate product requirements into intuitive user flows and interactions.

• Present evidence of your collaboration with engineering and product teams, detailing your role in shipping features from concept to launch and your contribution to cross-functional alignment.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your methodology for establishing design system governance, including processes for component contribution, version control, and accessibility standards.

• Illustrate your approach to user research and requirement gathering, focusing on how you translate findings into actionable design specifications and workflows.

• Showcase your process for prototyping and user testing, demonstrating how you iterate on designs based on feedback and validation.

• Document your strategies for design handoff to engineering, including the tools and communication methods used to ensure accurate implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on design systems, the portfolio must prominently feature examples of its creation, maintenance, and impact. Applicants should be prepared to walk through their process for building components, defining guidelines, and ensuring adoption, showcasing their ability to impact efficiency and consistency across teams.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for senior UX/UI Designers with 5-10 years of experience in the San Francisco Bay Area, a competitive salary range for this role is estimated to be between $140,000 and $190,000 annually. This range accounts for the specialized skills in design systems, AI/ML product design, and the high cost of living in San Mateo, California.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans to support employee well-being.

• Stock options or equity grants, providing employees with a stake in the company's growth and success.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) policy, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays, promoting work-life balance.

• Opportunities for professional development, including access to conferences, training, and continuing education to foster skill advancement.

• Potential for hybrid work arrangements or flexible scheduling, depending on team needs and project demands.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with potential company matching.

Working Hours: This is a full-time role, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. While on-site presence is expected, the company culture may allow for some flexibility in daily scheduling to accommodate individual work styles and peak productivity times, especially in a fast-moving startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the location in San Mateo, CA, a highly competitive tech hub, and the senior level of the role (5-10 years experience), a salary range of $140,000-$190,000 is a reasonable estimate. This reflects typical compensation for specialized UX/UI roles in the Bay Area, particularly those with design system expertise and a focus on emerging technologies like AI.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Deep Tech, Software Development. Archetype AI is operating at the cutting edge of AI, focusing on foundational models for the physical world, which positions it within a highly innovative and rapidly evolving sector that demands continuous learning and adaptation.

Company Size: Archetype AI is a Series A funded startup, indicating a relatively small but rapidly growing team. This size fosters a dynamic, agile environment where individual contributions have a significant impact, and roles can evolve quickly. It also means a close-knit team structure with high levels of collaboration.

Founded: Archetype AI was founded by a "high-caliber team from Google," suggesting a strong technical foundation and a culture that values deep expertise and innovation. While the exact founding date isn't provided, its Series A funding stage indicates it's a relatively young company, likely established within the last few years, prioritizing rapid development and market entry.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely small and integrated within product development. Expect close collaboration with Product Managers, Researchers, and Software Engineers.

• The reporting structure will probably be relatively flat, with the UX/UI Designer reporting to a Head of Design, Product Lead, or CTO, depending on the company's current organizational setup.

Methodology:

• Archetype AI is likely employing agile development methodologies, emphasizing iterative design, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback loops.

• Data-driven decision-making will be crucial, leveraging user analytics and performance metrics to refine designs and product features.

• A strong emphasis on systems thinking for building scalable design solutions and foundational AI models will be a core part of their operational approach.

Company Website: archetypeai.io

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's description as being formed by "exceptionally high-caliber team from Google" and developing a "foundation model for the physical world" suggests a culture that prioritizes deep technical expertise, innovation, and ambitious problem-solving. The Series A stage implies a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment where adaptability and hands-on contribution are highly valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior UX/UI Designer, indicating a level of professional seniority and autonomy. It's a key individual contributor role focused on strategic design execution and system building, rather than management. The scope includes ownership of critical design assets and significant influence on product direction.

Reporting Structure: The UX/UI Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Director of Product, or potentially a CTO in a smaller startup structure. They will collaborate daily with product managers, engineers, and researchers, forming a core part of the product development pod.

Operations Impact: The designer's impact will be direct and substantial, influencing the usability and adoption of Archetype AI's complex AI platform. By creating a robust design system and intuitive interfaces, they will enable faster product development, improve user engagement with AI technologies in the physical world, and contribute directly to the company's ability to translate cutting-edge research into real-world applications.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design System Lead or Architect role, owning the entire design system strategy and roadmap as the company scales.

• Specialization in AI/ML Design: Deepen expertise in designing for AI and ML products, becoming a sought-after specialist in this emerging field.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Transition into product leadership roles by leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and technical capabilities to influence product strategy.

• Mentorship: As a senior member, opportunities to mentor junior designers and shape the design culture within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the role as shaping "our design system, the connective tissue between our developer console, product interfaces, and speculative prototypes" implies a significant strategic impact, moving beyond task execution to foundational system design. The growth opportunities mentioned reflect a typical career trajectory for senior designers in innovative tech companies, emphasizing specialization and leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Archetype AI is headquartered in San Mateo, California, and the job is listed as "On-site" with a "TELECOMMUTE" location type, which is contradictory. However, the core description emphasizes being "located in the heart of Silicon Valley" and having a team "throughout the US and Europe," suggesting a primary office presence with potential for remote collaboration. Given the "On-site" designation, it implies a physical office space is the primary work environment.

Office Location(s): San Mateo, California, United States. This location places the employee in the heart of Silicon Valley, offering proximity to major tech companies, venture capital firms, and a vibrant ecosystem of innovation.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be collaborative, designed to foster interaction between designers, engineers, and product managers, essential for an agile startup environment.

• Access to modern design tools and technology, including high-performance workstations and software like Figma, will be standard.

• Opportunities for informal and formal collaboration will be abundant, encouraging knowledge sharing and rapid iteration on design solutions.

Work Schedule: While designated as full-time (approximately 40 hours/week), the startup environment often encourages a degree of flexibility in daily hours, provided that core collaboration times and project deadlines are met. The emphasis on rapid development suggests a dynamic and potentially demanding schedule at times.

📝 Enhancement Note: The ambiguity between "On-site" and "TELECOMMUTE" needs clarification. Assuming "On-site" is the primary intent for this role, the environment will likely be a modern office space in a prime Silicon Valley location, designed for collaboration and innovation within a fast-paced startup.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on experience with design systems, Figma proficiency, and relevant project examples.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio, walking through 1-2 key projects that demonstrate your design process, system thinking, and visual craft. A practical design challenge may be assigned, focusing on a specific problem related to UI design, component creation, or workflow prototyping.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with product managers, engineers, and potentially researchers to assess your collaboration style, problem-solving approach, and ability to articulate design decisions. Expect questions about how you handle feedback and work with technical constraints.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership (e.g., CTO, Head of Product) to evaluate strategic thinking, cultural fit, and alignment with Archetype AI's vision and mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Design System Expertise: Dedicate a significant portion of your portfolio to your experience with design systems. Showcase the components you've built, the guidelines you've established, and the impact of your work on consistency and efficiency.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Clearly demonstrate your advanced Figma skills, including component libraries, auto layout, variants, and interactive prototyping. Use screen recordings or interactive prototypes where possible.

• Emphasize Process and Rationale: For each project, clearly articulate your design process, the problems you were solving, your research methods, the rationale behind your design decisions, and the outcomes achieved.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, quantify the impact of your work. For design systems, this could be metrics on adoption rates, reduction in design/dev time, or improved UI consistency. For product features, focus on user satisfaction, engagement, or task completion rates.

• Tailor to Archetype AI: Research Archetype AI's mission and current product focus. Highlight projects that demonstrate experience with complex technical products, AI/ML interfaces, or systems that bridge physical and digital realms, if applicable.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Core Problem: If given a design challenge, ensure you fully understand the problem statement and its context within Archetype AI's product landscape.

• Think Systematically: For design system challenges, focus on creating reusable, scalable components that adhere to defined principles.

• Prototype Interactively: If time permits, create an interactive prototype to demonstrate the user flow and interaction design.

• Articulate Your Process: Be prepared to explain your thought process, design choices, and any assumptions you made during the challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on design systems and AI products, expect interview questions to probe deeply into your process for creating scalable components, your understanding of user interaction with complex systems, and your ability to collaborate with technical teams. The portfolio review will be a critical gate, requiring clear demonstration of Figma proficiency and design system lifecycle experience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool. Essential for creating UI designs, component libraries, style guides, and interactive prototypes. Expertise in advanced features like auto layout, variants, and collaborative workflows is expected.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools or the ability to create interactive prototypes using Javascript might be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core UX/UI design role, but an understanding of how design systems integrate with product development workflows and potentially sales enablement tools can be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned as a core requirement, and expertise in its advanced features like component libraries and auto layout is critical. The mention of Javascript for prototyping suggests a desire for designers who can create more dynamic and interactive experiences, bridging the gap between design and development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Pioneering Spirit: A drive to be at the forefront of AI technology, pushing boundaries to create novel solutions for the physical world.

• Technical Excellence & Craftsmanship: A commitment to high-quality engineering and design, valuing deep expertise and meticulous attention to detail in all work.

• Collaboration & Transparency: An open and communicative environment where teams work together effectively, sharing knowledge and feedback freely to achieve common goals.

• User-Centricity & Impact: A focus on creating real-world value for users by understanding their needs and translating complex AI capabilities into intuitive and beneficial experiences.

• Agility & Adaptability: The ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment, embracing change and iterating quickly to meet evolving challenges.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are deeply embedded within product teams, working hand-in-hand with engineers and product managers on a daily basis.

• Open Feedback Loops: A culture that encourages constructive feedback on designs and processes, fostering continuous improvement and shared learning.

• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in design critiques, internal workshops, and documentation efforts to disseminate best practices and insights across the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Archetype AI's background (Google team, deep tech focus) implies a culture that values intellectual curiosity, rigorous problem-solving, and a proactive approach to innovation. The startup environment will likely foster a highly collaborative and fast-paced culture where individual initiative is rewarded.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Novel AI Applications: Translating complex, cutting-edge AI concepts for the physical world into intuitive and understandable user experiences. This involves designing for interactions that may not have direct precedents.

• Building a Scalable Design System from the Ground Up: Establishing and evolving a robust design system in a rapidly growing startup requires foresight, strong governance, and continuous adaptation.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Operating in a fast-paced startup environment means iterating quickly while maintaining high standards of design quality and system integrity.

• Cross-Disciplinary Communication: Effectively bridging the gap between highly technical AI research/engineering and user-facing design requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialization in Physical AI Design: Gain unique expertise in a nascent field of AI application, developing skills at the intersection of AI, robotics, and human-computer interaction.

• Design System Leadership: Grow into a leadership role focused on scaling and strategizing for the company's core design system.

• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Technology: Work with and contribute to the development of foundational AI models and real-world AI applications.

• Professional Skill Enhancement: Opportunities for training in advanced design techniques, AI/ML product design principles, and leadership development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be designing for a truly novel domain – AI in the physical world. This requires not only strong UX/UI skills but also the ability to conceptualize and design for interactions that are entirely new, demanding significant creativity and problem-solving.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for building a design system from scratch. What were the key considerations, challenges, and outcomes?" (Focus on process, system thinking, and impact.)

• "How do you approach translating complex technical requirements, like those for an AI platform, into intuitive user interfaces?" (Highlight your UX process, user advocacy, and ability to simplify complexity.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Archetype AI's mission to bring AI into the real world? How do you see design contributing to this mission?" (Showcase your understanding of the company's vision and your passion for its goals.)

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a design decision that was met with resistance. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Assess your persuasion, rationale, and ability to influence stakeholders.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of your most relevant projects, emphasizing those related to design systems or complex technical products.

• Deep Dive on 1-2 Key Projects: For each chosen project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), your specific contributions (especially Figma and system components), and the quantifiable results.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Use live demos or screen recordings to highlight your Figma skills – component libraries, auto layout, interactive prototypes.

• Explain Your Rationale: Be prepared to defend your design decisions with strong reasoning, linking them back to user needs, business goals, and design principles.

• Address AI/ML Context: If you have relevant experience, discuss how you approached designing for AI/ML products, including any unique considerations for data visualization, interpretability, or user trust.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect questions that delve into the specifics of design system management, your approach to prototyping with tools like Figma, and your ability to translate complex AI concepts into user-friendly experiences. Your portfolio presentation should be highly structured, focusing on process, rationale, and quantifiable impact, with a clear demonstration of Figma proficiency.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Archetype AI careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your most relevant experience, with a strong emphasis on design system creation/management and proficiency in Figma. Include detailed case studies showcasing your process, rationale, and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5+ years of professional UI/UX experience, specifically mentioning your contributions to design systems, expertise in Figma, and any experience with AI/ML products or Enterprise SaaS. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research Archetype AI's mission, products, and company culture. Prepare to discuss your design process, system thinking, and collaboration style, with specific examples from your portfolio. Practice presenting your key projects.

• Company Research: Understand Archetype AI's focus on physical AI and its ambition to build a foundation model for the real world. Be ready to articulate why you are passionate about this mission and how your design skills can contribute to its success.

⚠️ 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.