Design System Engineer

PermitFlow

$120K — $150K *
Consumer Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Strong React and TypeScript fundamentals, thinking in components rather than pages.
  • Experience building and maintaining a production design system or component library, with a portfolio that showcases your work.
  • Attention to visual and interaction design, with the ability to articulate design critiques.
  • Experience collaborating closely with product designers on specifications and tradeoffs.
  • Familiarity with design tools (Figma) and developer experience tools (Storybook, Chromatic, etc.).
  • Solid written communication skills for setting standards and documenting decisions.
  • Experience with Tailwind CSS and familiarity with WCAG accessibility standards are strong pluses.

Responsibilities

  • Own the daily development and evolution of PermitFlow's React component library.
  • Build robust, accessible components at all levels of the Atomic Design hierarchy and document them in Storybook.
  • Define and enforce component standards for API contracts and usage patterns.
  • Review PRs for quality and consistency in the component library.
  • Collaborate with designers to translate their specifications into high-fidelity components.
  • Manage the library's roadmap, aligning new component development with migration work.
  • Conduct visual regression testing and maintain Storybook as the source of truth for documentation.
  • Lead the Design Systems Guild to align on patterns and review proposals.

Benefits

  • Flexible hybrid work environment with 3 in-office days per week.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Flexible paid time off (PTO) and family leave.
  • Home office equipment stipend provided.
  • Access to direct leadership in a vibrant NYC office culture.
  • In-office meals provided for lunch and dinner.
Full Job Description
Our HQ is in New York City with a hybrid schedule (3 in-office days per week). We prefer NYC-based candidates or those open to relocation.

Role Overview

As a Design System Engineer, you'll be the technical steward of the component library that every product engineer at PermitFlow builds on top of. You'll work at the intersection of design and engineering, partnering closely with our designers to define and ship the atoms, molecules, and organisms that keep our product consistent, fast to build, and delightful to use.

This isn't a supporting role. You'll set the standards, own the roadmap, review PRs into the library, and be the go-to person when teams hit the edges of what our design system supports. You'll also lead the federated model we've established - working with team champions across our product squads to drive adoption, surface gaps, and maintain quality across a fast-moving codebase.

What You'll Do
  • Own the day-to-day development and evolution of PermitFlow's React component library
  • Build and maintain components across all levels of the Atomic Design hierarchy - atoms, molecules, organisms, and templates - ensuring each is robust, accessible, and documented in Storybook
  • Define and enforce component standards: API contracts, design token usage, prop interfaces, and variant patterns
  • Review PRs into the component library, maintaining quality bar and ensuring consistency
  • Partner with designers using Figma to translate design specs into production-grade components with fidelity
  • Manage the library's roadmap, balancing new component development with migration work as we bring the broader application into alignment
  • Work with Chromatic for visual regression testing and manage the Storybook instance as the source of truth for component documentation
  • Lead the Design Systems Guild - a cross-team working group of engineering champions - sharing updates, aligning on patterns, and reviewing proposals before implementation
  • Reduce overall frontend complexity: our migration work has already yielded thousands of lines of consolidation, and there's more to go


What We're Looking For
  • Strong React and TypeScript fundamentals - you think in components, not just in pages
  • Demonstrated experience building and maintaining a production design system or component library, not just consuming one - a portfolio, GitHub profile, or Storybook instance you can share carries more weight than a resume line
  • A sharp eye for visual and interaction design - you notice when something is off and can articulate why clearly
  • Experience working in close partnership with product designers: giving and receiving feedback on specs, negotiating tradeoffs, and aligning on the right abstraction before something gets built
  • Familiarity with design tooling (Figma) and developer experience tooling (Storybook, Chromatic, or equivalents)
  • Strong written communication - you'll be setting standards that product engineers read and follow, and documenting decisions that outlast you
  • Experience with Tailwind CSS is a strong plus
  • Experience with ShadCN or Radix UI primitives is a strong plus
  • Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) is a plus


What We Offer
  • Competitive salary and meaningful equity in a high-growth company
  • 100% company-paid base medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees + healthcare FSA
  • 401(k) savings plan
  • Unlimited PTO and paid family leave
  • Home office & equipment stipend
  • Daily in-office lunch and dinner provided
  • Commuter benefits (pre-tax transit and parking)

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