Design Systems Designer (Contract)

Into Design Systems; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambly is seeking a Design Systems Designer for a contract-to-hire engagement to design and build a token-based design system and documented component library with theming.

The role requires mid-to-senior experience in design systems, token architectures, and Figma-based libraries, with strong documentation and collaboration with design and engineering.

Qualifications

• Mid-to-senior-level, hands-on design systems expertise.
• Track record of building/maintaining design systems with tokens, theming, and component libraries in Figma using a variable-based token architecture.
• Ability to provide continuous recommendations that improve velocity and quality.
• Systems and codification mindset with ability to translate design intent into precise rules and documentation.
• Strong, well-rounded digital product design skills.
• Experience and deep curiosity working with AI as part of the core development flow.
• Self-directed and comfortable operating without a fully perfected process or handoff.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and collaborate with design and engineering stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design and build Cambly's design system as a token-based architecture for color, spacing, type, and more.
• Create a documented component library built on the token system with theming support.
• Modernize the design system with clear usage rules for each component.
• Write specs and documentation precise enough for designers, engineers, and AI agents to implement.
• Support a small, fast-moving design team by enabling product designers to focus on high-craft areas of Lexicon.

Skills

Design systems

Token architecture

Theming

Component libraries

Documentation

Digital product design

AI in development

Communication with stakeholders

Self-directed

Tools

Figma

Job description

Cambly is seeking a Design Systems Designer for a contract-to-hire engagement focused on a design system project. The role will design and build a variable-based token architecture and documented component library with support for theming. The engagement is roughly 3–5 months, full-time at approximately 40 hours per week.

What you'll do

• Design and build Cambly's design system as a structured, variable-based token architecture for color, spacing, type, and more
• Create a documented component library built on top of the token architecture with structural support for theming
• Modernize the existing design system with clear rules for when and how to use each component
• Write specs and documentation precise enough for designers, engineers, and AI coding agents to implement with minimal ambiguity
• Support a small, fast-moving design team by freeing product designers to focus on high-craft areas of Lexicon

What they're looking for

• Mid-to-senior-level, hands-on design systems expertise
• Track record of building and maintaining design systems with tokens, theming, and component libraries in Figma using a variable-based token architecture
• Ability to provide continuous recommendations that enhance overall velocity and quality
• Systems and codification mindset with ability to translate design intent into precise, unambiguous rules and documentation
• Strong, well-rounded digital product design skills
• Experience and deep curiosity working with AI as part of the core development flow
• Self-directed and comfortable operating without a fully perfected process or handoff
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and collaborate with design and engineering stakeholders