Design Jobs at Startups
There are 845 open design roles at 576 early-stage startups, 39% of them remote. Where pay is stated it is typically USD 145k to 206k, with a median of USD 175k.
Working in design at a startup
At an early-stage startup, designers own the end-to-end design process. They work directly with founders and engineers to define both the product experience and the brand, often moving between UX, UI, and marketing design in the same week. The work is practical and iterative, with a focus on shipping quickly and learning from real users.
What design work involves at an early-stage startup
You cover research, interface work and the brand, sometimes in the same week. No design system is waiting for you, so you build one while shipping. At a large company you would hand off a spec, and here you sit with the engineer building it.
Day to day
- Conduct user research and usability tests to inform design decisions
- Create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups for web and mobile
- Build and maintain design systems and component libraries
- Design brand assets, including logos, marketing pages, and sales materials
- Partner with engineering and product to refine interactions and ensure implementation quality
- Iterate based on analytics, user feedback, and stakeholder input
Skills and tools
- Figma
- Interaction design
- Prototyping tools (e.g., Principle, Framer)
- User research and testing
- Visual design and branding
How to get into design at a startup
Background
A degree in design, human-computer interaction, or a related field is common, but many designers enter through bootcamps or self-directed portfolios; hiring focuses on demonstrated work.
Career path
Depending on the startup's stage, designers grow into lead or principal roles, take on design management, or specialize in areas like product design, brand, or UX research.
Who is hiring designers
Open roles by startup. Select a startup to see its jobs.
- 845open roles
- 576startups hiring
- 39%remote
Pay and the market
Industries
AI and machine learning (93), fintech and payments (88) and construction and real estate (74) startups have most of the openings.
Pay figures come from the 328 postings on this page that state a salary.
Salary
39% of design postings are remote. Remote design jobs →
Where design roles are open
Open roles by place. Every row is a link.
Industries hiring design
Open roles by what the startup builds. Every row is a link.
Experience level
Open roles by the experience the posting asks for.
Employment type
Open roles by full-time, contract, internship and the rest.
Design jobs
Questions people ask
How much do design jobs pay?
Typically USD 145k to 206k a year, with a median of USD 175k, where the posting states a salary.
Which startups are hiring designers?
UniSpace (21 roles), Hush Security (9) and Kettle (9) have the most; 576 startups are hiring in total.
Can I work remotely?
39% of these roles are remote.
Do I need to be senior?
Most roles are senior (58% of those that state a level), and 9% are junior or intern.
Are new roles coming in?
49 were posted this week.