Design Engineer

About MaincodeMaincode is an applied AI lab. We translate research into real-world tools: interfaces that support decision-making, surface insights, and express complex ideas with clarity. We believe AI’s next leap isn’t scale - it’s design. Our work bridges research and interface, helping people understand, navigate, and collaborate with intelligent systems.You’ll join the Design Engineering Group (DEG) - a small, embedded team working across brand, product, and early-stage prototypes. We care deeply about craft, clarity, and momentum.The RoleWe’re hiring a Design Engineer to help build demo-ready interfaces, support early AI prototypes, and expand our internal design systems and tools. This is a hybrid role: part engineering, part design.You’ll work closely with our Design Engineering Lead and collaborate with research and product teams. Some days you’ll refine a branded microsite; other days you’ll prototype a new interaction pattern for an Ollama-powered tool. Your work will balance polish with pragmatism: knowing when to push fidelity, and when to simplify.What You’ll Work OnCore WorkBuild and maintain high-quality layouts and components across Maincode and partner surfacesExtend our design system with new UI primitives, motions, and reusable patternsImplement polished, demo-ready interfaces (states, flows, interaction details)Manage staging, QA, and feedback cycles for production-facing projectsExploratory WorkPrototype interfaces for new AI interaction models (e.g. Ollama- or Docker-based tools)Use AI-augmented coding environments (Cursor, Claude Code, V0) to accelerate prototypingBalance speed and quality: quickly test ideas while delivering clean, maintainable codeTranslate experimental prototypes into usable microsite features or internal toolsWhat We’re Looking For1–3 years experience (or equivalent projects/internships) in design engineering or hybrid rolesStrong visual instincts paired with systems thinkingDemonstrated ability to deliver polished, demo-quality UI/UX (attention to states, flow, typography, usability)Comfortable with Figma and frontend frameworks (React, Tailwind, Shadcn/ui or similar)Familiarity with containerised environments (Docker) and API integrationsCuriosity about interaction design for AI systems and willingness to work with inference backends like OllamaClear communicator: able to explain decisions, document trade-offs, and work iterativelyTools & PracticesYou’ll Work AcrossAI-assisted coding tools (Cursor, Claude Code, V0)Figma for design and system explorationFrontend libraries like shadcn/ui and TailwindMotion.dev /equiv. for animation and system motionGitHub, Docker, Notion, and lightweight documentation for collaborationWhat Growth Looks LikeWithin 6–12 months, you will:Expand our design system with net-new components and patternsDeliver demo-ready AI prototypes in collaboration with researchContribute to design direction through both interface craft and engineering decisionsShow increasing independence in balancing speed, polish, and technical decisionsWhat To IncludeWe’re not just looking for final results. Show us how you think:1–3 projects that demonstrate your design-engineering process (what you explored, how you executed, what you’d do differently)A short Loom (optional, max 5 min) walking through a projectAny examples of demo-quality UI/UX you’ve shippedWhy This Role MattersInterface is how Maincode’s ideas are experienced. Your work ensures our research shows up in the world with clarity and precision — whether through a microsite, a system component, or an AI-powered prototype.Hiring ProcessWe Move Intentionally And Communicate Clearly At Every StepPortfolio Review – We evaluate taste, process, and clarityIntro Chat – Casual conversation about fit and interestTake-Home Task – A focused, open-ended design–dev challenge (dockerised Ollama prototype + polished UI/UX)Final Chat – With our Design Engineering Lead and Maincode Founder