Design Technologist

The Rho; New York (NY); On-site; USD 130,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Healthcare benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

The Rho is looking for a Design Technologist in New York, NY, to design products by building them. This role requires strong prototyping skills, especially in code, and a minimum of 4 years of experience in designing digital products. Candidates should thrive in ambiguity, communicate effectively, and maintain high standards of craft. The salary range for this position is $130,000 - $280,000, with additional benefits such as equity and healthcare. Join a diverse and inclusive environment at Rho!

Qualifications

• 4+ years designing digital products with evidence of shaping outcomes.
• Prototyping skills beyond Figma – in code, with AI tools.
• Ability to work autonomously and thrive in ambiguity.
• Experience in complex workflows and edge cases.
• Strong storytelling and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design by making and own product areas end-to-end.
• Build expertise in financial management for startups.
• Set product direction and shape what gets built.
• Maintain high standards for usability and craft.
• Use AI to enhance design processes and workflows.

Skills

Prototyping in code

User intuition

High fidelity design

Communication with precision

Autonomous work

Education

4+ years designing digital products

Tools

AI tools

Figma

Job description

About Us

Rho is the modern banking platform built for startups. Open accounts in minutes, issue cards, manage expenses, pay bills, and close the books – all in one connected platform backed by real human support.

The Role

Rho is hiring Design Technologists — people who design products by building them. You lead with taste and user intuition, but you work in the medium: prototyping in code, leveraging AI tools, getting to real signal before anyone's written a PRD. You're not waiting for requirements. You're generating them.

The design role has more leverage than it's ever had. AI is compressing the space between insight and artifact. A designer who can prototype in code, think in systems, and build deep customer intuition can now shape product in ways that weren't possible two years ago. This role exists to capture that.

At Rho, you'll own product problems from first principles through shipped software. You'll be the person in the room who knows the customer cold, has the design judgment to know what's right, and has the technical fluency to prove it fast. This role is for someone who's already working this way — and wants a company that’s building around it.

What You'll Do

Design by making. Own complex product areas end-to-end. Use functional prototypes — not decks — as your primary tool for thinking, aligning, and deciding. Work in high fidelity early. Ship the concept, not just the comp.

Know the customer. Build real expertise in how founders and early-stage companies manage money. Use research when it's right, but also trust the pattern recognition that comes from sustained proximity to the problem.

Set product direction. Your design judgment is a strategic input, not a downstream service. Shape what gets built, what gets cut, and what gets rethought. Bring clarity to ambiguity. Say no to the right things.

Hold an unreasonable standard for craft. Usability, interaction quality, visual refinement — every detail in a banking product earns or erodes trust. Sweat accordingly.

Work AI-native. Use AI tools to accelerate your own process. Identify where AI belongs in the product experience itself. Help the team build new workflows as the old ones stop making sense.

Push the system forward. Evolve Rho's design system — not just components, but the principles that make a complex financial platform feel simple.

Who You Are

• 4+ years designing digital products. A portfolio that shows exceptional craft and end-to-end ownership — not just the pretty screens, but evidence that you shaped the outcome. Fintech is a plus, not a gate.

• You prototype beyond Figma — in code, with AI tools, in whatever gets you to a better answer faster. You're not an engineer, but you're not afraid of the material.

• You work autonomously and thrive in ambiguity. You plan your own work. You don't need to be managed toward quality.

• You design for real complexity — edge cases, dense workflows, the unglamorous stuff that separates good products from great ones.

• You communicate with precision and know how to tell the story of why, not just what. You can hold your own with executives, engineers, and end users.

• You have taste. When you say something isn't good enough, people believe you.

Our people are our most valuable asset. The salary range for this role is $130,000 - $280,000. Base salary may vary depending on relevant experience, skills, and business needs. In addition to base pay, Rho offers equity, healthcare benefits, and paid time off.

Diversity is a core value at Rho. We’re passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable environment for all those involved with our mission, including employees, contractors, candidates, customers, and vendors. We believe every member of the Rho community enriches our ability to provide a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the market, identify problems, and drive solutions that align with our mission. We welcome all qualified applications and support each of our Rho’ers with ongoing professional growth opportunities.