Design Systems Architect — AI-Ready, Scalable

WebHosting; United States; Remote; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Render is seeking a Staff/Principal Founding Design Systems Lead to embed judgment into the design system that underpins the platform. You will start hands-on, shaping architecture, components, and guidelines, then grow a team around the function.

Your work will ensure the system remains coherent for humans and AI readers, while preserving brand and accessibility. You’ll partner with the Head of Design to define the vision, push for scalable patterns, and drive the evolution of tokens, guidance,

Qualifications

• Track record of setting direction and delivering outcomes in design systems or design engineering.
• Ability to build and scale a function from the ground up before leading a team.
• Strong judgement and developer empathy with a deep understanding of front-end patterns.

Responsibilities

• Set the system vision and direction based on builders and customers’ needs.
• Build the foundations hands-on, shipping components and guidance.
• Lead and grow the team owning the system with clear priorities and ownership.
• Elevate Render’s visual and interaction design across typography, hierarchy, and motion.
• Make the system legible to AI with machine-readable docs and agent-facing guidance.

Skills

Design systems

Leadership

Architectural design

AI-ready design

Design language

Tools

Figma

Job description

Render is seeking a Staff/Principal Founding Design Systems Lead to embed judgment into the design system that underpins the platform. You will start hands-on, shaping architecture, components, and guidelines, then grow a team around the function.

Your work will ensure the system remains coherent for humans and AI readers, while preserving brand and accessibility. You’ll partner with the Head of Design to define the vision, push for scalable patterns, and drive the evolution of tokens, guidance,