Senior Software Design Lead

IDEO•San Francisco, CA

6d•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 focuses on turning product visions into buildable realities and testing ideas through working code. The scope has expanded from interface design to system design, encompassing the interaction between people, software, and AI agents. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of data models, APIs, and agentic infrastructure, and be able to communicate technical choices effectively to executives and engineering leaders.

Requirements

6-8+ years as a software engineer shipping production software, preferably at growth-stage or established tech companies.
1-2+ years as an engineering lead or solutions architect, with experience in scoping, estimating, planning projects, and making architecture decisions.
Deep software fundamentals, including 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 with quality that extends beyond initial development.
Track record of working closely with product, design, and data teams.
Curiosity about people and a desire to understand how software craft intersects with product and design.
Proficiency in using prototypes as a thinking tool, not just a delivery mechanism.
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, product strategists, and design researchers on digital product engagements (8-12+ weeks) spanning product vision, strategy, and end-to-end build.
Translate human insights into technical architecture, including data, APIs, integrations, and the agentic layer.
Build early prototypes using real data, models, and integrations to facilitate rapid learning and reduce risk.
Advise client executives and engineering teams on tech 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.