Founding Design Engineer

Urban Ridge Supplies•New York, NY

15h•Hybrid

About The Position

Noto is hiring its first design engineer to own the look, function, and language of its AI-native operating system for after-school businesses. The role combines design and engineering with product judgment and user empathy, taking ideas from early sketches through implementation and launch. The product supports customers throughout the day across workflows such as scheduling, billing, payroll, marketing, CRM, communications, classroom management, and student and parent portals. The design engineer will improve complex experiences, establish a cohesive design foundation, and make the product more intuitive and delightful. This is a hands-on product role, not a marketing or brand position. The design engineer will own projects end to end, including UI and database work, and help define both what the team builds and how it builds it. The team works four days per week in its Herald Square office in New York City and one day remotely, with one week per quarter working from anywhere. Occasional travel for team offsites and customer visits is expected. Team members work 50–60-hour weeks, with some late nights and occasional weekends expected. Noto is a team of about 20 and has raised $4 million from Base10 Partners and South Park Commons. Compensation is $140,000–$185,000, plus equity. The company provides 100% company-paid benefits, lunch in the office, and a stipend for a work setup. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; the company is unable to sponsor employment visas for this role.

Requirements

Four or more years of experience designing and building software products.
Full-stack ability and comfort with React, Next.js, Node, and Postgres.
Ability to use AI to ship features end to end and recognize when AI-generated code is incorrect.
Strong product judgment, including the ability to simplify messy workflows and explain design decisions.
Care for words and details, including labels, error messages, empty states, and emails to parents.
Comfort with ambiguity and willingness to investigate customer problems directly.
Currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Nice To Haves

Experience as the first or only designer at a company.
Experience designing complex operational software such as scheduling, billing, or administrative tools.
Interest in helping education businesses thrive.

Responsibilities

Own the design of the entire product, including layouts, workflows, and on-screen copy.
Design and build projects end to end, from the UI to the database.
Set the design quality bar and shape engineers’ work from early scoping through final polish.
Identify moments that confuse or slow customers and redesign and build better solutions.
Establish the components, patterns, and copy standards that guide how the team builds.
Investigate unstructured customer call notes and talk with business owners or front-desk staff to uncover underlying problems.
Help shape the product and the company’s design culture.