Software Product Design Engineer
Y Combinator · San Francisco, CA
- On site
- Full-time
- $350,000 / year
- San Francisco, CA
Job highlights
- Design and build polished product experiences.
- Translate high-fidelity mocks into production code.
- Own features end-to-end with autonomy.
- Work closely with users and stakeholders.
- Elevate interfaces with thoughtful detail.
About the role
Software Product Design Engineer - Build Polished, Thoughtful Product Experiences At YC
Y Combinator builds the software that runs YC — internal tools used by partners and founders, public products used by the broader startup ecosystem, and AI-powered systems that automate complex workflows. Our team is small, the impact is large, and we ship real product to real users frequently.
We’re looking for a Software Product Design Engineer — someone who lives at the intersection of design and engineering. You’ll design beautiful user experiences, translate high-fidelity mocks into production code, and proactively elevate existing interfaces with thoughtful detail and interactions.
What You’ll Do
- Design compelling, clear UI/UX and produce high-quality mocks that demonstrate strong product taste.
- Turn design mocks (yours or others’) into pixel-perfect, production-ready frontends using modern web tech.
- Iterate on existing interfaces by improving layout, interaction quality, motion, and design consistency.
- Work closely with engineers, partners, and stakeholders — you’ll own the design and implementation of features end-to-end.
- Rapidly prototype and “vibe code” to explore ideas, gather feedback, and iterate quickly.
- Contribute to design systems, component libraries, and patterns that raise the bar for frontend quality across YC.
- Stay close to users: talk to them, watch how they use the product, and improve the experience based on real signals.
What We’re Looking For
- Strong UX and visual design skills with proven taste and craftsmanship.
- Frontend engineering experience — comfort building real UI in React, TypeScript, and modern CSS.
- Ability to move fluidly between design tools (Figma, etc.) and frontend code.
- A “get things done” mindset: you ship quickly, iterate based on feedback, and take ownership.
- Someone who cares deeply about polish — from typography and spacing to micro-interactions and transitions.
- Comfort with ambiguity: you’ll often define your own scope and drive things forward with little direction.
Nice to have
- Experience building or maintaining design systems.
- Contributions to open source UI libraries or design resources.
- Background in internal tools, admin dashboards, or developer-facing products.
Why this role at YC
At YC, engineers own projects end-to-end — from the early sketches and prototypes to deployed code used by partners, investors, and founders. We work on a small, tight-knit team where your decisions matter, and you’ll ship real product quickly, often interacting directly with users. You’ll also be plugged into the heartbeat of the startup ecosystem, surrounded by founders and builders working on the hardest problems.
This is a unique opportunity to combine design taste, frontend craftsmanship, and real product impact in a role with broad autonomy and high visibility.
Location
This is an in-person role at YC's campus in Dogpatch, San Francisco. This is where our users (founders, partners, and employees) are five days a week, so it’s optimal for you to be here with them. You must live in the SF Bay Area or be willing to relocate. We offer generous relocation support for those who want to move to SF to work here.
Compensation
$185K to $485K base salary, depending on experience. YC has a profit-sharing program, which is comparable to equity in an early-stage startup or carry in a VC fund.
Benefits
Our full benefits package includes medical, vision, and dental plans, infertility benefit, STD/LTD, life insurance, commuter benefits, flexible spending account, health savings account, 401(k) + 4% matching, generous parental leave, paid holidays, and flexible paid time off policy.
Work Authorization
Y Combinator is willing to sponsor certain employment visas in accordance with company policy.
Legal note
Y Combinator considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law, including San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance. Y Combinator is committed to protecting the privacy of the personal information of job applicants and complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act. The privacy policy of Ashby, Inc., the hiring platform used by Y Combinator, governs the collection of such data and can be found here.
Key skills/competency
- Software Product Design Engineer
- UI/UX Design
- Frontend Development
- React
- TypeScript
- Modern CSS
- Figma
- Prototyping
- Design Systems
- User Experience
Skills & topics
- Software Product Design Engineer
- UI/UX Design
- Frontend Development
- React
- TypeScript
- CSS
- Figma
- Prototyping
- Design Systems
- User Experience
- Product Design
- Engineering
- San Francisco
- Startup
- In-Person
How to get hired
- Customize your resume: Highlight UI/UX design and frontend engineering skills. Emphasize experience with React, TypeScript, and CSS.
- Showcase your portfolio: Include examples of pixel-perfect frontends and design system contributions.
- Tailor your cover letter: Express your passion for polish and your ability to work with ambiguity.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss your design process, coding approach, and how you collaborate with others.
- Demonstrate product taste: Clearly articulate your understanding of thoughtful design and user experience.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the application process for a Software Product Design Engineer at Y Combinator?
- The application process for a Software Product Design Engineer at Y Combinator typically involves submitting your resume and portfolio, followed by interviews that assess your design skills, frontend engineering capabilities, and cultural fit. Be prepared to discuss your experience with tools like Figma, React, and TypeScript, as well as your approach to product design and collaboration.
- What kind of projects can I expect to work on as a Software Product Design Engineer at Y Combinator?
- As a Software Product Design Engineer at Y Combinator, you'll work on a variety of projects, including internal tools for partners and founders, public-facing products for the startup ecosystem, and AI-powered systems. You'll own features end-to-end, from initial design to final implementation, with a focus on building polished and thoughtful user experiences.
- What are the key design and engineering skills required for this role at YC?
- Key skills for the Software Product Design Engineer role at YC include strong UX and visual design abilities, proven product taste, and hands-on frontend engineering experience with React, TypeScript, and modern CSS. The ability to fluidly move between design tools like Figma and coding is essential, as is a deep care for polish and user experience.
- Does Y Combinator offer relocation assistance for this Software Product Design Engineer role?
- Yes, Y Combinator offers generous relocation support for candidates who wish to move to San Francisco to work in person as a Software Product Design Engineer. This is an in-person role, and relocation assistance is provided to help facilitate your move to the Bay Area.
- What is the salary range for a Software Product Design Engineer at Y Combinator?
- The base salary for a Software Product Design Engineer at Y Combinator ranges from $185,000 to $485,000, depending on your experience. In addition to the base salary, YC offers a profit-sharing program, which is comparable to equity in an early-stage startup.
- What kind of benefits does Y Combinator provide for its employees, including this role?
- Y Combinator provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental plans, infertility benefits, STD/LTD, life insurance, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts, a health savings account, 401(k) with a 4% match, generous parental leave, paid holidays, and a flexible paid time off policy.