Design Engineer

Replit5 months ago

Location

Foster City, CA (Hybrid) In office M,W,F

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 180,000 – 290,000

Level

Senior

Role

Frontend Engineer

Posted

Nov 12, 2025

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Replit is seeking a Senior Design Engineer to bridge design and engineering on their agentic software creation platform. This role involves architecting front-end solutions, implementing their design system (Replit UI), and creating seamless user experiences for millions of users worldwide. The position requires 8+ years of front-end development experience with expert-level skills in HTML, CSS, JavaScript/TypeScript, and React.

What you'll do

UI Architecture: Architect and implement complex UI components and systems that balance aesthetics with technical performance

Design System Leadership: Lead the technical implementation and evolution of Replit's design system (Replit UI)

Prototype Development: Create interactive prototypes to explore new interaction models and validate design concepts

Design Implementation: Collaborate closely with product designers to bring designs to life with pixel-perfect precision

Best Practices Establishment: Establish best practices for front-end development and component architecture

Technical Mentorship: Mentor engineers on design principles and implementation techniques

Workflow Optimization: Develop tools and processes to improve design-to-development workflow

Design Review Participation: Contribute to design reviews with a focus on technical feasibility and implementation

Accessibility Champion: Champion accessible, responsive, and performant user interfaces across the platform

What we look for

Technical

Front-end Development8+ years of experience in front-end development with a strong design sensibility

Core Web TechnologiesExpert-level knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript/TypeScript

Modern Framework ExperienceDeep experience with modern front-end frameworks with React preferred

Design Systems KnowledgeStrong understanding of design systems and component-based architecture

UI Animation SkillsExperience implementing complex UI animations and interactions

Design-to-Code TranslationProven ability to translate design concepts into production-ready code

Education

Formal EducationBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Design, or related field preferred but not required with equivalent experience

Experience

Senior-Level Experience8+ years of professional front-end development experience

Design CollaborationStrong communication skills to effectively collaborate with both design and engineering teams

Accessibility ImplementationExperience with accessibility standards and best practices in web development

Skills

Required skills

JavaScript/TypeScriptExpert-level proficiency in modern JavaScript and TypeScript for complex application development

HTML/CSSExpert-level knowledge of semantic HTML and advanced CSS including animations and responsive design

ReactDeep experience with React framework and modern component-based architecture patterns

Design SystemsStrong understanding of design system principles, component libraries, and design tokens

UI/UX ImplementationAbility to implement pixel-perfect designs with attention to user experience details

Front-end ArchitectureExperience architecting scalable front-end solutions and component systems

Cross-team CollaborationStrong communication skills for effective collaboration between design and engineering teams

Accessibility StandardsKnowledge of WCAG guidelines and inclusive design implementation practices

Nice to have

Replit PlatformActive user of Replit platform with passion for accessible software creation

Developer ToolsExperience building design tools or developer productivity tools

AI/ML IntegrationBackground or interest in working with AI and machine learning technologies

Open Source ContributionsContributions to design systems, UI libraries, or related open-source projects

Animation LibrariesExperience with advanced animation libraries like Framer Motion, GSAP, or Lottie

Performance OptimizationKnowledge of front-end performance optimization techniques and tools

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 180,000 – 290,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Competitive Salary & Equity

Market-competitive base salary with equity compensation

401(k) Program

Retirement savings plan with 4% company match

Health Insurance

Comprehensive health, dental, vision and life insurance coverage

Disability Coverage

Short-term and long-term disability insurance protection

Parental Leave

Paid parental, medical, and caregiver leave policies

Commuter Benefits

Support for commuting expenses and transportation

Wellness Stipend

Monthly stipend for health and wellness expenses

Work Environment

Autonomous work environment with flexibility

Office Setup

Reimbursement for in-office setup and equipment

Flexible Time Off

Flexible time off policy plus company holidays

Team Events

Quarterly team gatherings and social events

Office Amenities

Full range of amenities available in the Foster City office

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video call with recruiter to discuss background, interest in Replit, and basic qualifications
2
Technical Portfolio Review — In-depth review of design engineering portfolio, GitHub projects, and discussion of technical implementation choices
3
Design System Challenge — Take-home or live coding exercise focused on building reusable UI components with design system principles
4
Cross-functional Interview — Panel interview with design and engineering team members to assess collaboration and communication skills
5
Technical Deep Dive — Detailed technical interview covering front-end architecture, performance optimization, and accessibility implementation
6
Final Interview — Meeting with engineering leadership to discuss vision alignment, growth potential, and cultural fit at Replit