Shipd is our gamified data collection platform that transforms boring annotation into an addictive, competitive experience. With quests, bounties, and leaderboards, Shipd attracts the best contributors for complex data tasks -- and now we need a Founding Design Engineer to take our current platform and turn it into a polished, scalable system.

What You’ll Do

• Build design systems: Create custom design systems and reusable UI components that support many data formats and workflows.

• Own the Quest Builder: Engineer multi-step agent workflows and UI generation that make setup fast, consistent, and scalable.

• Tackle complex UX challenges: Design for 6+ hour coding sessions, competitive programming culture, and real-time telemetry.

• Ship gamification features: Build leaderboards, streaks, bounties, and community mechanics that drive engagement.

• Engineer developer tooling interfaces: Extend VS Code forks, browser extensions, and trace viewers with performant, developer native-feeling UI/UX.

• Ship without handoffs: Combine design + engineering to move fast, iterate, and polish.

You’ll Succeed Here If You Have

• Proven track record building 0→1 products and design systems from scratch.

• Background in developer tools, gamification platforms, or complex marketplaces.

• Ability to think like both a designer and an engineer—balancing aesthetics, interaction, and performance.

• A founding mentality: scrappy, equity-motivated, excited to work hard to build something lasting.

Characteristics We’re Looking For

• Hybrid thinker: part game designer, part engineer.

• Obsession with functional complexity, not just pretty UI.

• Curiosity about developer psychology and how to motivate at scale.

• Thrives in ambiguity; ships fast without waiting for process.

Nice to Have

• Experience with VS Code extensions, IDE plugins, or browser extensions.

• Familiarity with marketplace/community dynamics.

• Exposure to gamification design or engagement psychology.