Job Description
Founding Design Engineer | React, Node.js, Figma & UI | Miami, FL
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Location: Miami, Florida (Hybrid Working)
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Salary: Up to $230,000 Base + Equity
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Employment: Full-time, Permanent
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The Opportunity
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Searchability is recruiting for an ambitious, early-stage technology startup in Miami looking to hire a Founding Design Engineer who can take products from 0 to 1.
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We're looking for someone who combines exceptional UI/UX design skills with hands-on full-stack engineering experience, particularly across React, Node.js, TypeScript and Figma.
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This is an opportunity to join at the earliest stages, work directly with founders and take complete ownership of how a product looks, feels and functions.
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You'll be responsible for turning ideas into beautifully designed, fully functional products, from initial Figma concepts and interactive prototypes through to production-ready applications.
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This isn't a traditional designer or frontend developer position. We're looking for someone who can design, code and ship exceptional products independently.
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What You'll Be Doing
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- Own the end-to-end design and engineering of new products, taking ideas from 0 to 1.
- Design exceptional user interfaces and experiences using Figma.
- Build responsive, high-performance frontend applications using React, Next.js and TypeScript.
- Develop backend functionality, APIs and integrations using Node.js.
- Translate Figma designs into pixel-perfect, production-ready user interfaces.
- Create interactive prototypes, wireframes, user flows and high-fidelity UI designs.
- Build and maintain design systems, reusable UI components and frontend architecture.
- Develop polished animations, micro-interactions and intuitive user journeys.
- Work directly with founders to shape product direction, design decisions and technical strategy.
- Rapidly prototype, test and launch new features based on user feedback.
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What We're Looking For
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- Strong commercial experience in Design Engineering, UI Engineering, Frontend Engineering or Full-Stack Product Engineering.
- Excellent hands-on experience with React, Node.js, TypeScript and JavaScript.
- Advanced Figma skills, including UI design, prototyping, components and design systems.
- Strong understanding of UI/UX principles, visual design, interaction design and user-centred product development.
- Proven experience building and launching products from 0 to 1.
- Ability to independently take a product from Figma design through to full-stack implementation.
- Strong experience with HTML, CSS, Tailwind CSS and responsive design.
- Experience building backend APIs, services and integrations using Node.js.
- A strong portfolio showcasing beautifully designed interfaces and products you've personally built.
- Previous experience in startups, scale-ups or fast-moving product environments.
- Excellent attention to detail, strong product instincts and the ability to move quickly.
- Based in Miami or within commuting distance and comfortable with hybrid working.
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Nice to Have
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- Previous experience as a Founding Design Engineer or early-stage engineering hire.
- Experience building AI-native SaaS products or modern web applications.
- Experience with Framer Motion, GSAP, Three.js or other animation libraries.
- Experience with Express.js, NestJS, PostgreSQL or similar backend technologies.
- Experience establishing UI design systems and component libraries from scratch.
- Experience using AI-assisted development tools such as Cursor, Claude Code or similar.
- Personal projects, startup experience or independently launched products.
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Why Apply?
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- Base salary up to $230,000 + Equity.
- Hybrid working in Miami.
- Join an ambitious early-stage startup with genuine ownership and influence.
- Work directly with founders to shape the product and technical direction.
- Take products from initial Figma concepts through to production.
- Own both UI/UX design and full-stack engineering.
- Opportunity to establish the company's design systems, frontend architecture and product experience.
- Work with modern technologies in a fast-moving, creative environment.
- Long-term career progression as the business scales.
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Interested?
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If you're a Miami-based Design Engineer who combines Figma, UI/UX design, React and Node.js, and loves building products from 0 to 1, we'd love to hear from you.
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Apply directly through LinkedIn or contact Searchability for a confidential conversation.