Senior Software Design Lead

IDEO•San Francisco, CA

7d•$130,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

IDEO San Francisco is seeking a Senior Software Design Lead to architect the human and technical systems behind digital products and AI experiences. This role involves building prototypes that function like real production software and serving as a trusted technical advisor to client CTOs. The position requires a blend of deep software engineering expertise and a strong understanding of design principles, with the opportunity to learn the IDEO design process.

Requirements

6-8+ years of experience as a software engineer shipping production software, ideally at growth-stage or established tech companies.
1-2+ years of experience as an engineering lead or solutions architect, including scoping, estimating, planning projects, and making architecture decisions.
Deep software fundamentals: systems design, data modeling, APIs, and tradeoffs around performance, security, and scale.
Fluency in a modern tech stack (e.g., TypeScript, React, Python, Node; AWS, GCP, Azure).
Hands-on experience building with LLMs (tool use, agents, retrieval, evals) and advanced prototyping.
Ability to turn concepts into working software quickly, using real data and integrations.
Track record of working closely with product, design, and data teams.
Curiosity about people and a desire to learn how software craft intersects with product and design.
Strong communication and storytelling skills, including creating architecture diagrams, system maps, and presentations for executives and engineering leaders.

Nice To Haves

Comfort with Figma, design systems, and front-end craft.
Client-facing or consulting experience.
Experience participating in UX research.
Experience with hardware or connected devices (Arduino, IoT).

Responsibilities

Work with product designers, strategists, and researchers on digital product engagements, spanning product vision, strategy, and end-to-end build.
Translate human insights into technical architecture, including data models, APIs, integrations, and agentic layers.
Build early prototypes using real data, models, and integrations to facilitate rapid learning and reduce risk.
Advise client executives and engineering teams on technology stack choices, build-vs-buy decisions, API and LLM evaluation, and feasibility.
Design agent and system behavior on behalf of humans, including guardrails, failure states, and system legibility for both people and machines.
Elevate the craft of software design within IDEO by creating reusable starter kits and toolkits, and coaching designers who prototype in code.
Assist in shaping proposals and scoping technical work for business development efforts.